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Lopez's Expeditions 



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A. C. OUISENBERRY. 

(Member of The Filson Club.) 



FILSON CLUB PUBLICATIONS No. 2 1 

u 

LOPEZ'S EXPEDITIONS 
TO CUBA 

1850 and 1851 

BY 

ANDERSON C. QUISENBERRY 

Member of The Filson Club 

Author of "The Life and Times of Humphrey Marshall, the Elder"; " Revolutionary 
Soldiers in Kentucky"; "The First John Washington of Virginia"; "Vir- 
ginia Troops in the French and Indian War"; "Genealogical Memo- 
randa of the Quisenberry Family and other Families"; 
"Memorials of the Quisenberry Family in Germany, 
England, and America"; Etc., Etc., Etc. 

READ BEFORE THE CLUB APRIL 3, 1905 

KlluHtratfh 




" In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, 
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me; — 
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free." 



LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY 

JOHN P. MORTON & COMPANY 

Printers to The Filson Club 

1906 






LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two C0Die6 Received 

FEB 6 1906 

CoiwrijM Entry 



hSS A I XXc, No. 

3 1% b 



COPYRIGHT, 1906 

The Filson Club 

All Rights Reserved 



€ 






PREFACE 



THE subjoined account of General Lopez's expedi- 
tions to Cuba was originally prepared as the 
basis of an historical novel, to be called The Strong in 
Heart, in which the tragic fate of Crittenden and his men, 
and the dauntless heroism of the Liberators generally, were 
to be exploited; though the fictional background of the 
story was to be in Kentucky. In order to secure a correct 
historical framework for the proposed novel, it was neces- 
sary that I should myself prepare a history of those ill- 
fated expeditions to Cuba, since no satisfactory accounts 
of them were accessible to me ; and no consecutive account 
whatever of the Rahia Honda Expedition had ever been 
published. 

The data for this sketch were gathered mainly from 
files of old newspapers, from the official reports of the 
United States Consul at Havana, and from the scrap- 
book that was kept by Colonel Crittenden's mother, it 
having been kindly loaned to me for the purpose by ex- 
Governor Thomas T. Crittenden, of Missouri, Colonel 
Crittenden's brother. The materials gathered from these 



4 Preface 

and other sources were hastily woven together in proper 
sequence, forming a narrative which is now published 
almost exactly as it was first written, though it was not 
originally intended for publication in this form. In some 
instances almost the very words of the disjecta membra 
of the story, as they appeared in the old papers from 
which they were copied, have been used in this sketch; 
in which my own work has been that of a compiler and 
an editor, rather than that of an author. I am indebted 
to Doctor Thomas E. Pickett, of Maysville, Kentucky, 
whose scholarly pen has often adorned the historic and 
scientific literature of Kentucky, for the facts which I 
have embodied in the sketch of Colonel John T. Pickett. 

As I was constantly engaged with other matters that 
could not be neglected, it soon became apparent that the 
construction by me of a novel along the lines proposed was 
utterly impossible under the circumstances, if the work 
was to do either the subject or myself even the slightest 
credit; so that project had to be indefinitely postponed, 
if not abandoned altogether. 

The subject, merely as an historical monograph, is 
one capable of considerable elaboration; but even for 
that I could not find the time. The sketch as prepared, 
brief and imperfect as it is, has apparently not been 
found altogether lacking in interest and merit by The 



Preface 5 

Filson Club, before which it was read April 3, 1905, and 
under whose kindly auspices it is now given to the world 
as one of their valuable series of historical publications. 
A brilliant galaxy of gallant and intrepid young Ken- 
tuckians, the more prominent of whom were O'Hara, 
Crittenden, Pickett, Hawkins, Stanford, Ellis, Logan, 
and Breckenridge, bore the most conspicuous part in those 
early and desperate attempts to confer the boon of liberty 
upon Cuba. Then may it not be hoped that some such 
distinguished Kentucky author as James Lane Allen, 
or John Fox, junior, fired with the State love that is the 
pride of every true Kentuckian, may take upon him- 
self the gracious duty of embalming in an immortal 
romance the heroism and devotion of those paladins, as 
well as the glory and the chivalry of their deeds of high 
emprise ? 

A. C. QuiSENBERRY. 
Hyattsviiae, Maryland. 



INTRODUCTION 



THE subject of the twenty-first publication of The 
Filson Club is the Expeditions of Lopez to Cuba. 
Lopez was a filibuster, and the subject of the book is 
therefore filibustering. 

What is filibustering, or who is a filibuster? Different 
origins and meanings have been given, but we have doubt- 
less derived filibuster from the Spanish " filibustero, " 
and understand it to mean a citizen of one country who 
invades another, with which his own is at peace, for the 
purpose of subduing and occupying it. 

Filibustering has not always been the same, but in 
one form or another it may be said to have existed time 
out of mind. Away back in the shadowy past of the 
human race the hunter who seized the woods of his 
neighboring hunter, and the shepherd who came down 
upon the grazing places of his neighboring shepherd, were 
filibusters. When Alexander the Great crossed the Indus 
and Caesar the Rubicon, their subsequent acts resembled 
those of filibusters as much as anything else. Better 
examples, however, are found in later times. The 



8 Introduction 

vikings of the North for more than a thousand years were 
masters of the seas that washed Europe. Commerce 
upon the ocean and the inland seas and the great rivers 
could only be safe with the consent of these Northern 
seafarers. They carried their victorious arms to England, 
France, Spain, Portugal, and to other countries, and the 
only way for the countries invaded to keep out such 
unwelcome visitors was to nationalize those already 
arrived, as a protection against others to come. The 
vikings did not share the odium usually awarded to pirates, 
but were considered respectable, and formed dynasties in 
England and France which connected them by blood 
with the nobility of those countries to this day. 

The pirates of the north of Africa were not considered 
as respectable filibusters as the vikings, but were well 
enough thought of by the most enlightened countries 
to receive pay for not preying upon the commerce of the 
contracting parties. Such pay in our times would be 
considered the compounding of felonies, but it was thought 
all right in those days. 

The most, brilliant and successful filibustering feat, 
however, in modern times was the conquest of Mexico 
by Don Hernando Cortez. This great filibuster, without 
the consent of his king, undertook the conquest of Mexico, 
a country^at peace with Spain, and succeeded. The mag- 



Introduction 9 

nitude of this conquest divested it of all irregularity, and 
Spain accepted it as the great acquisition that it was, 
incorporated it into her dominions without a scruple as to 
the character of the acquisition, and made the filibuster 
who had done the bloody work of conquest the first Cap- 
tain-General and first Governor of the country acquired. 
Still nearer to our times, Don Francisco Miranda 
appeared as a filibuster, trying to wrest his native Vene- 
zuela from the Spanish. He was the first filibuster to 
gather an army in the United States to attack a foreign 
country. Of gentle birth, good education, and large 
fortune in Venezuela, he was nevertheless suspected of 
revolutionary designs and compelled to take refuge in 
the United States. He fought with the French on the 
side of the colonies in the Revolutionary War, and after- 
ward in the French Revolution. He was compelled to 
leave France for suspected complicity with Dumouriez, 
and again came to the United States, where he fitted out 
an expedition with the hope of revolutionizing his native 
country. He was unsuccessful, and falling into the hands 
of the Spaniards by treachery, was imprisoned at Cadiz 
in Spain, where he died in chains after four years of con- 
finement. His miserable end might have been a warning 
to others, but it was not so received. 

A greater man and actor on a larger scale was Aaron 
Burr, a native of the United States. No one knows pre- 



i° Introduction 

cisely what the designs of Burr were, but it is generally- 
believed that he contemplated the conquest of Mexico 
and the placing of himself on the throne of the Monte- 
zumas. He failed as completely as Miranda did, except 
that he did not die in a prison like Miranda. He died, 
however, without probably deserving it, almost univer- 
sally dishonored and despised. 

If the acts of General Sam Houston were not those of 
a filibuster, they were so near it that it would be diffi- 
cult to draw the distinction. He was certainly a citizen 
of the United States making war upon Mexico for the 
independence of Texas, with which his own country was 
at peace. His undertaking was a success, however, which 
made the filibuster a hero and his filibustering the 
untainted boon of mankind. History has recorded his 
deeds as those of a patriot, and left no room for the 
criticism of the filibuster. 

Of the four principal filibusters just named in the 
Western world — Cortez, Miranda, Burr, and Houston — 
two were successful and two failures. Each of them 
concerned Spanish territory, and Spain was probably 
responsible for the introduction of filibustering into the 
Western world. Her barbarous treatment of her people 
here made them anxious to seek foreign help to enable 
them to throw off the yoke that galled them. She her- 



Introduction TI 

self had invaded and conquered Mexico and parts of South 
America, and ought not to have been disappointed when 
others invaded her domain. She finally lost all her 
possessions, principally gained by filibustering, in the New- 
World, and the wonder is, not that she lost them, but that 
she held them so long. In these expeditions from the 
United States was some of the best blood of the country. 
A grandson of President Adams, by the name of Smith, 
was in the Miranda Expedition. He was supposed to 
have been captured by the Spaniards on the coast of 
Venezuela, and while this impression prevailed the Spanish 
minister at Washington wrote to a friend of the father 
of the young filibuster offering to intercede for him upon 
condition that he would disclose the names and plans 
of all the Spaniards associated with him. The father 
answered that he would not purchase his own life upon 
such terms, and that he would not advise his son to bring 
disgrace upon himself and his family by betraying those 
with whom he had acted. It was afterward discovered 
that the young man had not been captured, but made 
good his escape to the United States. Noted names, 
in other expeditions, might be given here, but the author 
has exhibited enough of them in the text to show that 
the very best blood of the land was employed. 

After the failure of Miranda, four-and-forty long years 
elapsed before another filibustering expedition was fitted 



i2 Introduction 

out in the United States against a foreign country, unless 
the movements for the independence of Texas were of 
that character, as they probably were. In 1849, I ^5°> 
and 185 1 three expeditions were fitted out by Lopez 
against the island of Cuba. These, although true fili- 
bustering expeditions, were also movements in the interest 
of humanity. They were not for plunder and spoils, 
but for the freedom of human beings from the galling 
yoke of tyranny. The Spanish had first depopulated 
the island of Cuba with fire and sword, and then after- 
ward so oppressed the English and French and Dutch 
who came into it that they were driven from the land 
and took to the sea as buccaneers. Nothing like piracy 
was attached to the name buccaneer. The word means 
flesh-dryers, and was applied to the inhabitants of the 
island of San Domingo, who followed hunting the wild 
cattle of that land and curing their flesh and hides for 
the Dutch market. They were not pirates, moreover, 
because they only preyed upon the commerce of Spain, 
their enemy and oppressor. It is possible that the fili- 
busters of the United States were the logical representa- 
tives or successors of these buccaneers, the original enemies 
of the Spanish, for every filibustering expedition from 
this country was against the Spanish. 

I need not, in this introduction, say anything more 
about the Expeditions of Lopez. They are the subject 




LIEUTENANT JOHN CARL JOHNSTON. 



Introduction 13 

of the twenty-first publication of The Filson Club, and 
are fully set forth in the text by Mr. Quisenberry, the 
author. I am not familiar with any previous work in 
which these expeditions have been so fully and faithfully 
recorded. 

It has now been fifty-six years since the first of these 
expeditions was organized, and fifty-four since the third 
and last was inaugurated. Those who were engaged in 
them are assumed to have been full-grown men at the 
time, so that a survivor would now have reached the age 
of seventy-seven. But few men who have borne the 
heats of sub-tropical suns in military campaigns live to 
seventy-seven. I know of but one survivor of the second 
Lopez Expedition who is now living, and he has been 
singularly associated with the death and burial of one 
of his comrades in the same expedition. This survivor 
is John Carl Johnston, a son of the late Judge George W. 
Johnston, who was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, 
on November 19, 1829. After going through the schools 
in his native county, his education was continued at 
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and finished at West Point in 1846. 
He then went into the Mexican War as second lieutenant, 
and continued in service during the war. At the close 
of the Mexican War, in which he had been a gallant 
soldier, he went to California, where he remained a few 



i4 Introduction 

months without finding or acquiring a gold mine, and 
returned to Kentucky as poor as he went from it. In 
1850 he joined the second Lopez Expedition, and was a 
brave and efficient soldier from the beginning to the end. 
In the fight at Cardenas, in which he bore an honorable 
part, a fellow-soldier was mortally wounded, but suc- 
ceeded in getting on the boat which bore the retreating 
filibusters to Key West. Here his comrade's wound was 
dressed with a shirt furnished by Johnston, and having 
on it written with indelible ink, "John Carl Johnston, 
Louisville, Ky." In a few days after the filibusters dis- 
persed from Key West to their homes and other places 
the wounded soldier died, and the name on the shirt fur- 
nished a supposed clue to his identity. A letter was 
sent to Louisville stating his death, and asking what should 
be done with the body. The letter was answered by 
requesting that the remains be sent to Louisville. When 
the remains arrived, they were buried in the Western 
Cemetery, and a headstone erected bearing the name of 
John Carl Johnston. Of course Lieutenant Johnston, 
when he returned to Louisville, was astonished and 
troubled at the evidence this grave gave of his death and 
burial, but at the suggestion of Judge Johnston, his father, 
the grave was never disturbed, but allowed to continue 
to bear the remains of the dead filibuster and the name 



Introduction I 5 

of his living comrade. If the city of Louisville had been 
as mindful of those buried in this cemetery, the graves 
of the old pioneers buried there would not have been 
disturbed by vandal hands. The city owed it to the 
descendants of the dead buried there to keep a fence 
around the burying-ground and the lots in decent order. 
Instead of that, the fence once there was removed, and 
many of the monuments which told whose remains occu- 
pied the graves were piled together in an unoccupied 
corner of the ground, in utter confusion, as if they were 
common stones. Among the graves thus desecrated was 
that of the filibuster who bore the name of Lieutenant 
Johnston, who is yet living among us at the ripe age of 
seventy-six years. He cultivates his little farm below 
the west end of the city, and is an exemplary, genial, and 
worthy citizen, beloved and respected by all who know 
him. 

There has been but one filibuster of note in our coun- 
try since the time of Lopez. This was William Walker, 
who by filibustering rose to the presidency of Nicaragua, 
in Central America. His holding of this high office was 
not of long duration. After being compelled to flee from 
the country he had conquered, and in which he had been 
elected president, he returned to the United States and 
gathered a force to regain his seat in the presidential 



16 Introduction 

chair. His force landed in Nicaragua, but brought him 
death instead of the presidency. Captain Salmon, of the 
British ship Icarus, arrested Walker and his few followers 
and delivered them to the Hondurenos, in utter disregard 
of the fact that Walker had demanded at the surrender, 
whether he was surrendering to the British or Hondurenos, 
and from Captain Salmon received the emphatic reply 
that he was surrendering to the British. He was betrayed 
by Captain Salmon, delivered to the Hondurenos, tried 
by court-martial, and condemned to death by the fusillade. 
The next morning after the verdict he was shot by three 
soldiers, each of whose balls took effect, and still he was 
not dead. A fourth soldier then put his musket against 
his forehead and blew out his brains. 

I have, however, said enough, and perhaps too much, 
for an introductory chapter on filibustering in a book 
devoted to that subject. The subject is interesting 
enough, but its treatment has limits, especially in an intro- 
duction. I therefore hasten to leave the subject, with 
the recommendation that all who want to know more 
about it shall read the following pages by Mr. Quisen- 
berry, which are full of instructive and valuable facts 
beautifully set forth by the author. No brighter names 
than those of Pickett, O'Hara, Hawkins, Logan, Breck- 
enridge, and Crittenden, mentioned by Mr. Quisenberry, 



Introduction l 7 

will be found in our annals. They were the noble sons 
of noble sires, acting nobly in the cause of human progress, 
as they understood it. If it were possible for descend- 
ants to add to the glorious name of Crittenden, it was 
done by two filibusters who bore that name, one in the 
moment of death, the other in a marvelous escape from 
death. The first was William Logan Crittenden, whose 
sad fate Mr. Quisenberry has fully set forth. His dying 
words have gone all over the civilized world. When he 
stood before the loaded muskets of his murderers and 
was ordered to turn his back to them and kneel, he 
answered, "A Kentuckian kneels only to his God," and 
thus standing erect he looked the death-dealing muskets 
in the muzzle while they were emptied into his body. 
The second was George Bibb Crittenden, who was in the 
Fisher Expedition, which set out from Texas five hundred 
strong, in 1842, in pursuit of Mexican raiders. They 
crossed the Rio Grande and fought a successful battle 
against great odds, but their commander was wounded 
and agreed to surrender upon the solemn promise that 
they should be paroled and sent back to Texas. Instead 
of this being done, they were sent to interior prisons and 
ordered by Santa Anna to be decimated. To determine 
those that were to be shot, white beans, meaning life, 
and black beans, meaning death, were placed in a recep- 



18 Introduction 

tacle, from which they were to be drawn. Crittenden 
drew a white bean, which secured his life, but instead of 
using it for himself he handed it to a comrade, saying, 
"You have a wife and children, but I have none, and can 
afford to risk another chance." He drew again, and was 
lucky enough to draw another white bean, so that both 
he and his friend escaped being shot. But few men 
would have taken such a desperate chance for life; but 
noble-souled Crittenden took it and survived to fight 
gallantly through the Mexican War and to rise to the 
rank of Brigadier-General in the Confederate service. 
Whether such men take up arms as soldiers or filibusters, 
they command the respect of mankind for honor and 
courage, and deserve a place in history. 

R. T. Durrett, 

President of The Filson Club. 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 
PART 



I Cuba 



23 
32 



II The Cardenas Expedition 

Ill The Bahia Honda Expedition 66 

A ,_ 121 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



PAGE 



A. C. Quisenberry Frontispiece 

Lieutenant John Carl Johnston 13 



Map of Cuba 



23 



General Narciso Lopez 28 

Colonel Theodore O'Hara 34 

Colonel John T. Pickett 37 • 

"Rose Hill," Ancestral Home of the Picketts 42 

Colonel Thomas T. Hawkins 44 

Colonel Logan C. Crittenden 73 

Moro Castle in Havana 77 

Human Bone Heap in Cuban Cemetery 95 

Robert H. Breckenridge H 1 



LOPEZ'S EXPEDITIONS TO 
CUBA 

i 

CUBA 

WHEN Columbus discovered Cuba, in 1492, he de- 
scribed it as "the most beautiful land eyes 
ever beheld," and as being fertile almost beyond descrip- 
tion. He found this lovely island inhabited by a race 
of primitive people whom it would hardly be just to 
call savages, for, by his own account of them, and by 
all accounts that have ever been given, they were a 
loving, gentle, and affectionate race, hospitable and peace- 
able beyond any people the world has ever known that 
history gives an account of. They had no weapons, and 
were totally ignorant of war and strife. 
Sowing It is estimated that when the island was 

discovered it was peopled by more than four 

Wind. r ^ J 

hundred thousand of these gentle natives; 
yet, in less than a hundred years the whole of them had 
disappeared. An entire people had been exterminated, 
and had vanished from the face of the earth as completely 



24 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

as if they had never been. The excuse, if excuse it may 
be called, for massacring them, was that they did not 
with sufficient alacrity embrace the religion of their con- 
querors. Neither did they take kindly to the oppressive 
form of slavery to which they were subjected; and so it 
was considered a duty to God to slay them. They were 
slain indiscriminately, singly, in squads, in droves. The 
last great slaughter, when the remnants of the race were 
rounded up and exterminated, was on the northwestern 
coast of the island, at a spot where a city has since arisen, 
to which has been given the traditional name of the locality, 
Matanzas; and Matanzas means the massacre, the 
shambles. 

All that now remains of the childlike aborigines of 
Cuba is the liquid and musical names they gave to the 
topographical features of their beloved island. These 
names survive to a most remarkable extent. As to the 
island itself, there is a very evident instance of retribu- 
tive justice in the fact that the Spaniards could never 
name it, though time and again they tried to do so, 
backed by all the might of official authority. First they 
named it Juana, in honor of a prince; then Fernandino, 
for a king; then Santiago, for the patron saint of Spain; 
and finally Ave Maria, for the Holy Virgin herself; but 
all to no avail. One by one these names appeared and 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 25 

disappeared; and Cuba, the soft, musical name given by 
the lovable aborigines, alone survives; and probably it 
will survive for all time. 

Reaping " As ye sow, so shall ye reap!" The first 

the ferocious colonizers of Cuba left a progeny 

Whirlwind. 

who, although of pure Spanish blood, in time 
and after many generations began to be considered by 
the home Spaniards as hardly Spaniards at all; and there- 
fore fair prey. These latter native Cubans were called 
Creoles; and as they began to gather great masses of 
wealth from the natural and exuberant fertility of their 
soil, it clearly became worth the while of their relatives 
in old Spain to come over and despoil them. This they 
did in hordes; and the leeches who came over to Cuba 
from Spain accompanied their spoliation of the Creoles 
with every circumstance of indignity and cruelty. 

When the nineteenth century dawned the Creoles, 
though many of them were immensely wealthy, were 
little better than actual slaves. They were good enough 
to create wealth, or to superintend its creation by their 
own black slaves, but they were not considered good 
enough for any of the rights and heritages of freemen. 
Spain sent over, from time to time, hordes of blood- 
suckers, who filled all the official positions in the island, 
civil and military; and as these became enriched by 



26 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

almost open robbery, as they usually did in four or 
five years, they were replaced by fresh hordes, eager, 
hungry, and rapacious. 

A The unhappy island was almost without 

Despotic an y i aw except the will of the petty tyrants 

Government. 

who ruled it for their own aggrandizement; 
and the only constitution it possessed for more than half 
a century was the Royal Order of May 28, 1825, by 
which the King of Spain clothed the Captain-General 
of Cuba with almost absolute power. This remarkable 
document, the most striking instance of tyranny in 
modern times that has emanated from the ruler of a 
people who believe themselves to be civilized, set forth 
that— 

"His Majesty, the King, our Lord . . . has resolved to give to 
Your Excellency the fullest authority, bestowing upon you all the 
powers by which the royal ordinances are granted to the Governors 
of besieged cities. In consequence of this, His Majesty gives to Your 
Excellency the most ample and unbounded power, not only to send 
away from the island any persons in office, whatever be their occu- 
pation, rank, class or condition, whose continuance therein Your 
Excellency may deem injurious; or whose conduct, public or private, 
may alarm you, replacing them with persons faithful to His Majesty, 
and deserving of all the confidence of Your Excellency; but also to 
suspend the execution of any order whatsoever, or any general pro- 
vision made concerning any branch of the administration, as Your 
Excellency may think most suitable to the royal service." 

Under . such authority, it may well be believed that 
conditions in Cuba rapidly grew from bad to worse; and 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 27 

a mortal antipathy and mutual hatred was established 
between the Creoles and the Spaniards. Every form of 
persecution was inflicted upon the patient and oppressed 
Creoles; and though these people were wellnigh as 
broken-spirited as any men may become, still they were 
not altogether lacking in a spirit of resistance, as sub- 
sequent events have shown. 

s m toms There have been frequent risings of the 

of Cuban people. The earliest of these was what 

is known as the Black Eagle Conspiracy, in 
1829, only four years after the promulgation of the 
despotic Royal Decree, the intent of which was to deliver 
over Cuba, bound hands and feet and neck and crop, 
to the spoiler. In 1844 there were whisperings of a plot 
on the part of the black slaves of the Matanzas district 
to rise in insurrection. The authorities could elicit no 
information as to this plot from the witnesses they 
invoked, so they resorted to torture. Unwilling wit- 
nesses were flogged to the imminent verge of death while 
stretched face downward on ladders, to which they were 
bound. Spaniards ever have been famous for the numer- 
ous, varied, and exquisite forms of torture they have 
been able to discover and devise. They have searched 
out all the nerves of pain, and every possible mode and 
appliance to rack them; and the native Cubans received 
the full benefit of their ingenuity in this respect. 



28 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

The inevitable years sped on, bringing to 

Narciso 

Lopez. ™ e unhappy Cubans no surcease of sorrow, 

but rather increasing and aggravating their 
woes, until 1848, when there was a strong movement 
for liberty in the central portion of the island, under 
the leadership of Narciso Lopez, a general in the 
Spanish army, but not then in active service. This 
movement seemed to be gathering considerable strength, 
especially around Cienfuegos and Trinidad. But, his 
plans being prematurely exposed, Lopez was compelled 
to fly for his life. He escaped to New York, where he 
was joined by a great number of Cuban exiles, with whom 
he fomented a plan for achieving the liberty of Cuba 
by armed expeditions from the shores of the United 
States. 

Narcisco Lopez was a natural leader of men, and was 
in many ways remarkable. He was born in Venezuela 
in 1799, the son of a wealthy merchant; and it is said 
that at an early age he sympathized with the movement 
for the national independence of South America. How- 
ever that may be, it is certain that he took up arms for 
the King of Spain against Bolivar when that hero made 
his successful attempt to liberate Venezuela from the 
galling yoke of the mother country. In 1822 he retired 
from the Spanish army with the rank of Colonel; and 




GENERAL NARCISO LOPEZ. 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 29 

when the Spanish troops evacuated Venezuela he deemed 
it advisable to also leave the country himself, his native 
land. He established himself in Cuba, where it seems 
he was graciously received by the rulers, who recom- 
mended him so highly, when he soon afterward went to 
Spain in search of preferment, that he was there awarded 
high honors. In Spain he joined the Constitutional 
party of Queen Isabella, in opposition to Don Carlos, 
and became, in succession, Adjutant to General Valdes, 
Governor of Madrid, and Senator for Seville. This latter 
office he resigned because of the refusal of the Cortes 
to admit the representatives of Cuba. About this time 
his old commander, Valdes, was appointed Captain- 
General of Cuba; and when he went to assume that office 
Lopez went with him, and was given profitable employ- 
ment in various capacities. He also devoted his atten- 
tion to the exploration of the copper mines; and by this 
time, in one way and another, he had accumulated a 
large fortune. Owing to some misunderstanding with 
the Captain-General he was separated from his offices 
of profit in the government of Cuba; and was then 
attracted by the project of having Cuba throw off the yoke 
of Spain, and establish herself as a free republic. After 
the detection of his plot in 1848, his estates in Cuba were 
confiscated by the Captain-General; but it seems that 



30 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

he had previously succeeded in depositing some very- 
considerable sums of money in the New York banks, 
all of which were subsequently sunk in his several 
attempts to invade Cuba. Personally, he has been 
described as a fine-looking, well set-up man, with a 
splendid head, handsome black eyes, and benevolent 
countenance. His manners showed that he had had 
the advantages of the best of breeding and association;^ 
he was distinguished by his simplicity ol dress and 
demeanor, and was devoid of arrogance and ostentation. 
He was a man of the supremest courage and daring; and 
physically he was endowed with a capacity for the great- 
est hardship and endurance. Before the close of his 
checkered career this capacity was tested to the utmost 
limit, and met all the calls that were made upon it. 
The After establishing himself in New York 

Round island w i t h his coterie of Cuban patriots in 1848, 

Expedition. 

Lopez set to work to create an army of inva- 
sion, whose landing on Cuban shores was to be the signal 
for the rising of the natives. He soon enlisted a force 
of some fifteen hundred men, whom he attempted to get 
off as a joint expedition from New York and New Orleans 
— those in New York to be transported in the steamers 
New Orleans and Sea Gull, and those from New Orleans 
in the steamer Fanny. These two forces were to join 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 31 

at Round Island, in the Gulf of Mexico, between New 
Orleans and Mobile, and proceed thence to Cuba. The 
expedition, however, failed by reason of the fact that 
it was so openly conducted that the United States Gov- 
ernment was bound to take cognizance of it, and to put 
a stop to it at once; though there is little doubt but the 
Government would have been conveniently blind to any 
movement of the kind that had been conducted with a 
reasonable degree of prudence and secrecy. 

But the American people had become interested in 
the project of freeing Cuba, by whatever honorable means, 
and openly sympathized with it in every section of the 
country, more particularly in the South and West, where 
many gallant and daring men of high social position felt 
their souls in arms and eager for the fray. It is need- 
less to say that the project attracted not only lovers of 
liberty for liberty's sake, but also lovers of adventure 
for adventure's sake, and lovers of money for the sake 
of the money there was supposed to be in it. By a sad 
caprice of fate, it proved to be the lovers of liberty for 
liberty's sake who suffered most in the two expeditions 
from our shores that actually landed upon Cuban soil. 



32 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

II 

THE CARDENAS EXPEDITION 

The Round Island Expedition, which was stopped 
by the United States Government in 1849, was recruited 
mostly in New York City; but the failure seems to have 
dampened the ardor of the young men there, who did not 
respond so freely when, in the winter of 1849-50, Lopez 
began to build up a force for a second expedition — the 
one now known as the Cardenas Expedition. The defec- 
tion may also have been caused in part by the fact that 
some of the New York papers began to hint that the 
Independence party in Cuba had no confidence in Lopez, 
and would not rise to his assistance; and that the expe- 
dition was not supported by adequate means, the greater 
part of its funds having been raised on scrip based on 
the spoils of the proposed Government of Cuba, much 
of which scrip had been sold at two to five dollars 
on the one hundred dollars, to meet the immediate 
expenses of the expedition. It is true that vast amounts 
of these bonds had been issued, and they were sold for 
whatever they would bring. On the ships taking the 
men to their rendezvous in Yucatan, some of the soldiers 
of the expedition, when playing cards to while away the 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 33 

tedium of the voyage, frequently "backed their judg- 
ment" with Cuban bonds as the stakes of the game. 

Not meeting with as much encouragement as he 
desired in the East, General Lopez turned his attention 
to the West and South, whence had already been borne 
to him many ardent messages of sympathy and cheer. 
Early in the spring of 1850 he left New York and traveled 
incognito down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New 
Orleans, stopping at many places in Kentucky, Ten- 
nessee, and Mississippi to confer with those who were 
in sympathy with his purposes, and to perfect arrange- 
ments for the speedy sailing of an expedition from the 
Crescent City. The skeletons of three regimental organi- 
zations were speedily established and fully officered. These 
were known, from the States in which they were recruited, 
as the Kentucky Regiment, the Mississippi Regiment, 
and the Louisiana Regiment. Men joining the expedi- 
tion were to receive the same pay and allowances that 
were given in the United States Army, and at the end 
of one year — or sooner, if the revolution should be sooner 
successful — a bounty of four thousand dollars in money, 
or its equivalent in lands in Cuba. Officers, similarly, 
were to receive the same pay, etc., allowed for like grades 
in the United States Army, and were to be given high 
rank in the future permanent army of the Republic of 






34 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

Cuba, and to receive, at the same time as the men, a 

bounty of ten thousand dollars in money, or its equiva- > 

lent in lands in Cuba. 

The The Kentucky Regiment, ' in particular, 

Kentucky was remarkable for the character of its corn- 
Regiment. 

ponents, both officers and privates, who 

almost universally were from leading families of the 
State. These young men, gallant, impulsive, daring, 
dauntless, were lovers of liberty for liberty's sake. The 
field officers of the regiment were Colonel Theodore 
O'Hara, Lieutenant-Colonel John T. Pickett, and Major 
Thomas T. Hawkins; and a knightlier or more chivalric 
trio never sat at King Arthur's Round Table, or set lance 
in rest for the deliverance of the oppressed. 

It is a singular fact that the three ranking officers 
of the Kentucky Regiment in the Cardenas Expedition — 
Theodore O'Hara, John T. Pickett, and Thomas T. Haw- 
kins — each afterward served, though at different times, 
on the staff of General John C. Breckinridge in the 
Confederate army. 

Theodore O'Hara, Colonel of the Kentucky 

Theodore 

O'Hara. Regiment, at this time was thirty-one years 

old. He had already achieved military 

renown by his gallant and distinguished services as 

'See Appendix for a partial roster of the officers of this regiment, and a state- 
ment of its losses in the battle of Cardenas. 




COLONEL THEODORE O'HARA. 



Lopez s Expeditions to Cuba 35 

an officer of Kentucky volunteers in the war with Mexico. 
When, after the close of that war, the State of Kentucky 
sent to the battlefields of Mexico and gathered up the 
remains of her sons who had fallen there, and reinterred 
them with becoming civil and military ceremony in the 
State Cemetery at Frankfort, it was Theodore O'Hara 
who, in commemoration of that solemn and sacred oc- 
casion, composed that wonderful martial elegy— The 
Bivouac of the Dead 1 — that has made his name immortal.. 
Soon after the close of the Civil War its verses were cast 
upon iron slabs that adorn our national cemeteries, to 
commemorate the sleeping heroes of North and South 

alike . 

" The muffled drum's sad roll has beat 

The soldier's last tattoo ; 
No more on life's parade shall meet 

The brave and fallen few ; 
On Fame's eternal camping ground 

Their silent tents are spread, 

But Glory guards with solemn round 

The Bivouac of the Dead." 

If he had never written any more than this single 

stanza, and had achieved naught else besides, these lines 

alone would have given him perennial fame. His life 

was a romance, and devoted always to philanthropy. 

Soldier, poet, orator, journalist, planter — he was each in 

turn, and in each and all distinguished. At the close of 

1 For full text of this poem see Appendix. 



36 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

the Mexican War he was commissioned a Captain in the 
regular army of the United States. But army life in 
the piping times of peace that followed was irksome to 
his chivalric soul; so he resigned his commission in 
order to unite with Lopez in the Cardenas Expedition, 
which he fondly hoped would prove the means of free- 
ing Cuba. Returning thence wounded almost to the death, 
he next met that "gray-eyed man of destiny," Colonel 
William Walker, and co-operated with him in the organi- 
zation of his adventurous and ill-fated expedition to Nic- 
aragua. At the breaking out of the Civil War he at once 
cast his fate with that of the Confederacy, serving with 
distinguished gallantry until the end. On the staff of 
Albert Sidney Johnston, he received his dying chief in 
his arms at Shiloh. Later he served on the staff of Gen- 
eral John C. Breckinridge; and at the disruption of the 
Confederacy, when Breckinridge left the field, O'Hara 
was with him in the long and perilous retreat to the 
Florida coast. 

Colonel O'Hara 's commanding talents and brilliant 
achievements have already been commemorated in several 
more or less extended biographical sketches; and it is 
hoped that so brief a one in this work will therefore be 
the more readily excused. 




COLONEL JOHN T. PICKETT. 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 37 

John T. Pickett, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 

John 

T. Pickett. Kentucky Regiment, was born October 9, 1823, 
at the old stone house known as "Mill Glen," 
situated on the pleasant waters of the stream called Law- 
rence Creek, and not far from Maysville, Kentucky. The 
broad and fertile region drained by the Lawrence was, in 
early times, a breeding-place or nursery of soldierly men 
whose names are familiar throughout Kentucky, the first of 
whom was Simon Kenton; and it was in this region that 
young Pickett was reared, as well as born. This classic 
stream, which pays a perennial tribute of sacred soil to 
the Gulf of Mexico, is referred to by Henry T. Stanton, 
the poet, in the fine descriptive lines — 

"Where Lawrence, breaking thro' the hills, 
Beats down the lonesome hollows." 

If there be anything in heredity, it must be evident 
that John T. Pickett came naturally by his soldierly 
qualities and marked military talents. He was descended 
from a line of soldiers. His great-grandfather, Captain 
William S. Pickett, a planter of Fauquier County, Vir- 
ginia, was an officer of the Virginia line in the War of 
the Revolution; his grandfather, John Pickett, "of Fau- 
quier," removed to Kentucky in early times, settling 
in Mason County, and advanced by regular promotion 
to a colonelcy in the military service of that State. He 



38 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

drilled the first regiment of troops ever organized in 
Mason County. James C. Pickett, the father of John 
T. Pickett, was a captain in the regular army of the 
United States, and served as an artillery officer in the 
War of 1812; and he married the daughter of General 
Joseph Desha, who commanded the division of Kentucky 
troops which formed the famous "crochet" at the Battle 
of the Thames. 

John T. Pickett studied law at the Transylvania Uni- 
versity, Lexington, Kentucky. In 1841 he was appointed 
a cadet at West Point, but resigned before finishing the 
course, to accept a diplomatic appointment as United 
States Consul to the West Indies. In this capacity he 
served until 1848, when he became associated with Lopez 
in the movement to make Cuba free. From 1853 to 1861 
he was United States Consul at Vera Cruz, Mexico. At 
the beginning of the Civil War he immediately espoused 
the cause of the South; and was at once (1861) 
appointed Secretary of the American Peace Commission, 
and not long afterward was made Confederate States 
Commissioner to Mexico. In 1862 he was appointed 
Colonel and Assistant Adjutant- General on the staff of 
General John C. Breckinridge, and served to the end of 
the war.. When peace came he settled in Washington, 
D. C, where he had married his wife — Miss Mary Key- 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 39 

worth, daughter of Major Robert Keyworth, of that city. 
In the early "eighties" he had an attack of paralysis, 
which he did not long survive. He died October 18, 
1884, and after a checkered and stormy career was 
laid to rest by the side of his father and his wife, in the 
Congressional Cemetery at Washington. He had been 
an old comrade in arms with that born viking, General 
Charles Frederick Henningsen, Liberator and Filibuster 
in many lands— a battle-scarred paladin who never feared 
the face of man— upon whose tomb Pickett caused to be 
inscribed those lines from Gil Bias which might as fit- 
tingly be inscribed upon his own: 

"Invent Portum. Spes et fortuna valete! Sat me 
lusistis. . . . Ludite nunc alios." 

Colonel John T. Pickett was no ordinary man; on the 
contrary, he possessed to a remarkable degree the attri- 
butes of true greatness. William H. Russell, the war 
correspondent of the London Times, who met him during 
our Civil War, described him as "a tall, good-looking 
man, of pleasant manners, and well educated. ... He 
threw himself into the cause of the South with vehemence; 
it was not difficult to imagine he saw in that cause the 
realization of the dreams of empire in the South of the 
Gulf, and in the conquest of the islands of the sea, which 
have such a fascinating influence over a large portion of 



40 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

the American people." The Washington correspondent 
of the New York Sun, under date of November 18, 1873, 
said of him: "He is a striking-looking man, fully six feet 
two inches in height, with a knightly appearance and 
demeanor which bring to mind the men of the sixteenth 
century." After the battle of Cardenas, Colonel Pickett 
had the distinction of having a reward of twenty-five 
thousand dollars offered for his head by the Captain- 
General of Cuba. 

It is generally agreed that he was a man of striking 
personality. The portrait of him given in this work shows 
him soon after he had attained his majority — just a few 
years before the Cuban expedition. In addition to his 
magnificent height, he was slender, graceful, athletic, 
and possessed almost incredible powers of endurance. 
" He could tramp his forty miles without taking the starch 
out of his shirt-collar." He really had the "chiseled 
features" so often attributed by novelists to their heroes 
— fine, clear-cut, classical, and bold. It has been said 
that Joaquin Miller's poetic description of William Walker 
might be better applied to Colonel Pickett — 

"He was a brick, and brave as a bear; 
As brave as Nevada's grizzlies are, 
Or any lion, of anywhere. 



A piercing eye, a princely air, 
A presence like a chevalier, 
Half angel and half Lucifer." 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 4 1 

Although at rare intervals he gave evidence of a spice 
of Diabolus in his composition, yet there was a daily 
beauty in his life which charmed all who came into con- 
tact with him; and some of the children who were gath- 
ered about him more than fifty years ago can testify to 
this day to the power of that charm. 

The feat of John Graham, of Claverhouse, who saved 
the life of the Prince of Orange in battle by carrying him 
from the field on his horse, was scarcely more chivalric 
than the similar service rendered to General John C. 
Breckinridge by Colonel Pickett at the second battle of 
Cold Harbor. It was a fine exhibition of readiness, cour- 
age, soldierly devotion, and resource; as was, also, his 
action in the Logan incident at Cardenas. 

Honorable John T. Richardson, of Tennessee, who is 
compiling the diplomatic correspondence of the Con- 
federacy, is credited with saying that the letters from 
Colonel Pickett as Commissioner to Mexico are second 
in interest to none in the collection except the corre- 
spondence of Mason and Slidell. In these letters Colonel 
Pickett recites the tragic story of the ill-fated Maximilian. 

In this place it is hardly necessary to particularize 
concerning Colonel Pickett's connection with the Tilden- 
Hayes imbroglio and his personal correspondence with 
Abram S. Hewitt; nor to make more than a passing men- 



42 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

tion of his appeal to the Confederate Government, in 
the interest of foreign intervention, to free and arm the 
slaves — a suggestion that was seconded, when too late, 
by General Robert E. Lee. Colonel Pickett proposed 
"not to carry the war into Africa, but to carry Africa 
into the war." 

It may be interesting to consider, even though briefly, 
the influences and conditions which determined the evolu- 
tion of this young Kentuckian into a "Liberator" of 
the Spanish-American school. When his father, Honor- 
able James C. Pickett, was sent on a diplomatic mission 
to South America, his boys were placed under the care of 
an uncle who lived at the old homestead, "Rose Hill," 
near Washington, in Mason County, Kentucky. The 
house (still standing, and still in the possession of the 
family) is a large brick one, and was built in 1798 for 
Colonel John Pickett of Fauquier. The attic of this 
ancestral home yielded to research many interesting 
old papers; and, to a bright, ambitious boy in the preg- 
nant "thirties," the very atmosphere was full of stimu- 
lating tradition and speculation. John T. Pickett's 
thoughts turned as naturally to the Spanish main and 
the mouth of the Mississippi as the waters of his native 
Lawrence flpwed to mingle with the waters of the Gulf. 
In pioneer days his grandfather had actively sympathized 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 43 

with every project or movement to open the Mississippi 
to the transportation of the varied products of his plan- 
tation. His father's letters from South America were 
filled with references to Simon Bolivar, who had served 
on the staff of General Miranda when he commanded 
the Venezuelan forces — Miranda, the original filibuster, 
whose name is carved upon the Arc de Triomphe in Paris; 
and who, foreshadowing the fate of the filibusters of later 
days, died in a dungeon at Cadiz with a chain about 
his neck. 

In this same school young Pickett was well trained 
for his later career. During his consular service in the 
West Indies he formed a most congenial intimacy with 
a daring and enthusiastic Liberator who was a friend of 
Bolivar, and had been an officer in the military service 
of Spain. If this Liberator seemed to be visionary and 
reckless, it was the extraordinary success of Bolivar that 
had helped to make him so. Bolivar successfully invaded 
the powerful State of Venezuela with an army of five 
hundred men, and was hailed as "the Washington of 
the South." There was good reason to hope that what 
Bolivar had done in Venezuela might as successfully be 
accomplished by Narciso Lopez in Cuba. 

Colonel James C. Pickett, the father of our youthful 
Liberator, was an avowed expansionist; and while he 



44 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

was the representative of the United States at Lima in 
the "forties" he officially encouraged the designs of Com- 
modore Catesby Jones, United States Navy, to take Cali- 
fornia, in order to forestall its seizure by the British — 
an act of his which has been designated as " an usurpation 
of Congressional power." 

So, having come under the attraction of all these 
influences, John T. Pickett, with his ardent nature and 
martial spirit, could hardly have escaped being a Liber- 
ator. But he cherished no illusions in regard to the 
Spanish-American character, nor of the capacity of the 
Spanish- American peoples for self-government. 

Thomas T. Hawkins, Major of the Kentucky 

Thomas 

T. Hawkins. Regiment, was descended from a family that had 
been prominent in Virginia almost from the set- 
tlement of Jamestown in 1607, and in Kentucky from the 
days when it was an unbroken wilderness. Green's 
Historic Families of Kentucky says that " Hawkins 
is a name noted in Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, 
and all the way to Texas, for the oddity of some and 
the gallantry of all its members. The wife of Colonel 
John Todd, who fell at the Blue Licks; the mother of 
the gallant and honorable Butlers, of Carrollton; Colonel 
Ben Hawkins and General William Hawkins, of North 
Carolina; Colonel John Hawkins, who was Adjutant of 




COLONEL THOMAS T. HAWKINS. 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 45 

the Third Virginia Regiment during the Revolution, and 
afterward removed to Scott County, Kentucky — father 
of Augustus Hawkins, of Lexington, and the maternal 
ancestor of the Harvies, of Frankfort; the brave Colonel 
Thomas T. Hawkins, of Kentucky, and General Joseph 
Hawkins, of Texas, were all of the same game breed." 
In the Civil War Thomas T. Hawkins received his first 
appointment as Lieutenant and aide-de-camp to Brigadier- 
General John C. Breckinridge, then commanding the 
"Orphan Brigade" of Kentucky Infantry. After the 
battle of Shiloh, when Breckinridge was made a Major- 
General, Hawkins was promoted to the rank of Colonel. 
He served during the war with marked gallantry as a 
staff officer. After the war he was an invalid until his 
death, which occurred at Frankfort in 1879. He was 
buried in the State lot at Frankfort by the side of his 
comrades in the Mexican War. He was born at Newport, 
Kentucky, in 1820. 

Colonel Hawkins was an accepted authority on the 
subject of duelling. He was consulted about and 
entrusted with a number of cases in which such distin- 
guished citizens as John C. Breckinridge and Stephen A. 
Douglas were concerned. It must be said to his credit, 
however, that while strictly guarding the honor of those 
he represented, he did all he could to settle the case with- 
out resort to the field of honor. 



46 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

The start On April 4, 1850, at four o'clock in the 

Kentucky afternoon, the steamer Martha Washington 
Regiment. swung from her moorings at the foot of Vine 
Street, in Cincinnati, having on board Captain Hardy 
and one hundred and fifty men of the Kentucky Regi- 
ment, who had assembled in that city as the most 
convenient rendezvous from which they could start 
for their long trip to Cuba. These men were osten- 
sibly bound for Chagres, where, it was given out, 
they would cross the isthmus of Panama and then take 
shipping for the gold fields of California ; but it was almost 
as well known locally that they were bound for Cuba 
as if they had advertised the fact in the newspapers. 
They took on other men of the command at Covington, 
and at Louisville Colonel O'Hara and the other officers 
and privates of the regiment came aboard. Passing 
leisurely down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in their 
assumed character of adventurers to the gold fields of 
California, on the eleventh of April they disembarked at 
Freeport, Louisiana, three miles above New Orleans; 
and the next day they marched down to Lafayette and 
went into temporary quarters until transportation to 
Cuba could be provided. By this time the regiment 
mustered two hundred and forty men, all told. While 
in waiting, a large number of them were guilty of an almost 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 47 

fatal indiscretion in going to New Orleans on what they 
supposed to be a harmless, even if a mirthful and some- 
what boisterous frolic. On the twenty-fifth the regiment 
embarked on the steamer Georgiana, and set sail for the 
island of Muergres, where they were to effect a junction 
with Lopez and the remainder of the expeditionary force. 
The On the eighth of May, General Lopez and 

Disembarka= another section of his force left New Orleans 
on the steamer Creole, eluding all the vigilance 
of the Spanish Consul and his swarm of spies, who, 
although they were stationed on almost every corner 
watching Lopez's every movement, did not learn of his 
departure until the tenth. 

The steamer Susan Loud, Captain Pendleton, had 
left New Orleans on the second of May, cleared for 
Chagres. On the sixth she reached latitude 2 6° north 
and longitude 87 west, in the Gulf, and here Colonel 
Wheat, commanding the Louisiana Regiment, which was 
on board one hundred and sixty strong, announced the 
purpose of the expedition, which had come to this point 
in order to organize outside the jurisdiction of the United 
States, which was at peace with Spain. Here the Cuban 
flag was raised for the first time in history! 1 The skeleton 

1 This flag is said to have been designed by Lopez, and is now the official flag 
of "Cuba Libre "-the same design having been used ever since by the Cuban 
patriots. 



48 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

Louisiana Regiment was then fully officered and organ- 
ized. On the tenth of May the Susan Loud met the 
Creole (Captain Lewis) at the appointed place in the 
Gulf. The Creole then conveyed, besides General Lopez 
and his staff, the Mississippi Regiment, one hundred 
and sixty strong, commanded by Colonel W. T. Bunch. 
The force on board the Susan Loud was here transferred 
to the Creole. Lopez persuaded Captain Pendleton, of 
the Susan Loud, to unite with him; and the Creole set 
sail for the island of Muergres, where O'Hara and the 
Kentucky Regiment were to meet the expedition. Some 
rough storms ensuing, it was discovered on the twelfth 
of May, when the coast of Yucatan was first sighted, that 
the Creole had been carried some thirty-five miles out 
of her way, from Muergres. 

The The Georgiana had also missed her reckon- 

Union of the [ n g^ an( j h a( } cas t anc hor under the shelter 

Forces. 

of the desolate island of Contoy, some ten 
miles from the coast of Yucatan and probably about 
thirty miles from the place that had been appointed for 
meeting with the Creole. At daylight on the fourteenth 
she was sighted here by the Creole, which joined her an 
hour or so later. As the detachment on the Georgiana 
was to be transferred to the Creole for the final essay 
on Cuba, the latter proceeded on the same day to 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 49 

Muergres to lay in a supply of water, the Georgiana 
remaining at Contoy. During the day or two that was 
necessary for this purpose, some very evident and increas- 
ing signs of mutiny became apparent. The members of 
the Louisiana Regiment became dissatisfied because they 
thought the addition of the Kentucky Regiment would 
make too great a load for the Creole, which had been con- 
demned in the Lake trade two years before. The mem- 
bers of the Mississippi Regiment were on the point of open 
revolt on account of the petulance and arbitrary con- 
duct of their Lieutenant-Colonel, who, it was said, never 
seemed satisfied unless he had a quarrel with some one. 
Happily, Colonel Wheat and the other officers were able 
to completely pacify the men, and to render them as 
enthusiastic as ever for the forthcoming enterprise. 

General Lopez immediately assembled the principal 
officers (Lieutenant-Colonel Pickett representing the 
absent Kentuckians), and submitted to them a Cuban 
Declaration of Rights, which was in many respects very 
similar to the American Declaration of Independence; 
together with the basis of a provisional government for 
which to raise the standard in Cuba; both of which were 
highly approved. 

While at Muergres thirteen men deserted and raised 
the black flag. They were all foreign adventurers, or 



5° 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 



worse, who had been recruited in New Orleans. Some 
of the officers wished to fire on them, but Lopez forbade 
it. He said he desired none to go with him except good 
men, and such as did so voluntarily; and that any who 
desired to abandon the expedition before reaching Cuba 
were at liberty to do so. As to the thirteen deserters, 
their subsequent adventures constitute quite a chapter 
of horrors. 

On the eighteenth the Creole rejoined Colonel O'Hara 
at Contoy. He reported that on the previous day he 
had been reconnoitered by two small vessels, which had 
sailed away for Havana, as he thought, to report what 
they had seen. The two ships were lashed together, and 
the men and cargo of the Georgiana were soon trans- 
shipped to the Creole. General Lopez again offered all 
who desired to return to the United States an oppor- 
tunity of doing so, and thirty men availed themselves 
of the offer. Within a day or two afterward the Geor- 
giana was taken by the Spaniards, together with these 
luckless wights, and quite a large number of letters that 
had been written to sweethearts and wives by the Liber- 
ators, as the soldiers of the expedition called themselves. 
A day or two later all Havana was making merry over 
the contents of these letters, which had been translated, 
printed, and hawked about the streets of the city. The 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 51 

Susan Loud was also captured by the Spaniards before 
she could get back to New Orleans, with the one man 
who had elected to abandon the expedition when she 
did. He had been married only a few days before he 
started on the expedition, and was pining for his bride. 
The Spaniards shot him. 

At midnight on the sixteenth the Creole left the shelter 
of the lee shore of the island of Contoy, and put to sea, 
heading for Cuba; but it was necessary to keep her bow 
in the eye of the wind, and by this means she was thrown 
four points out of her way, which was the occasion of 
her avoiding the Spanish steamers Pizarro and Habanero, 
that had been sent from Havana to take her, and which 
did take the Georgiana the next day. 
The After a very perilous and stormy night, 

Plan of ^he morning of the seventeenth dawned bright 

Campaign. 

and clear. Lopez then officially announced 
his staff, headed by the distinguished and gallant A. J. 
Gonzales, a native of Matanzas, as Adjutant-General. 
He also on this day, for the first time, announced to his 
officers the plans of the campaign; which, briefly stated, 
were as follows: 

First, to land at Cardenas at night, and surprise and 
take that place. 

Second, to proceed to Matanzas, thirty miles distant, 
arriving at seven o'clock in the morning; and, after tak- 



52 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

ing it, one hundred picked men were to be sent to within 
nine miles of Havana to blow up an important bridge 
there, and also to destroy and obstruct the road generally. 

Third, these returning to Matanzas, the three skeleton 
regiments were to be filled up with native recruits, and 
three new regiments were to be raised, making an aggre- 
gate force of five thousand men, all of whom were to be 
mounted. 

General Lopez expected that within two days after 
landing he would be able to take the line of march for 
an aggressive campaign at the head of thirty thousand 
men, and shortly to be encamped before Havana. 

On the morning of the eighteenth, active prepara- 
tions were begun for the expected disembarkation upon 
the shores of Cuba, as it was now apparent that this 
important act should not be long delayed. Some dif- 
ferences and disputes having arisen between the com- 
manders of the three regiments as to which of them should 
have the honor of being foremost in landing his troops 
and striking the first blow for Cuban liberty, a council 
of war was convened to decide this delicate question. 
The boxes of arms were then for the first time opened, 
and the different regiments were given the choice of guns 
in the order in which it had been decided they should 
land. The Kentuckians, coming first, chose rifles; the 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 



53 



Mississippians chose yagers; the Louisianians took mus- 
kets; and each regiment actually got its first choice of 
arms. Nearly every man in the expedition had a knife 
and a revolver of his own providing. 

Cardenas is situated on the northwest 
Cardenas. coast of Cuba, some thirty miles from 
Matanzas and eighty-five miles from Havana. 
It was even then a town of considerable population, and 
was known in Cuba as "the American city," on account 
of the large number of Americans engaged in business 
in the town, as well as from the fact that the English 
language was almost universally spoken there. It is one 
of the most modern cities in Cuba, having been founded 
in 1828. It is situated directly on the bay of Cardenas, 
which is twelve miles long by eighteen miles wide, and 
was then, as now, entirely undefended by fortifications. 
The bay is so shallow near the shore that no anchorage 
ground can be found closer than three fourths of a mile 
to two miles. 

At half -past two o'clock on the morning of May 19, 
1850, the Creole entered the bay of Cardenas, but had 
not proceeded far before she grounded upon a coral reef, 
where it seemed likely she would stick indefinitely; but 
a daring young soldier named Faysoux swam off with 
a rope between his teeth to a neighboring little island, 



54 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

by means of which the Liberators were enabled to 
approach, but not before there had been a delay of thirty 
minutes, during which the alarm had been given in the 
town; and it was believed (as afterward transpired to 
be a fact) that messengers had been sent to Matanzas 
to apprise the troops there of the invasion. 
The The first landing was effected by Lieu- 

Disembarka- tenant- Colonel Pickett and sixty Kentuckians. 
They were the -first people who ever landed on 
Cuban soil for the distinct and avowed purpose of freeing 
the Cubans from the bitter oppression to which they had 
been so long subjected by the cruel and bloody tyranny 
of Spain. According to the plan of battle which had 
been agreed upon, Pickett and his little force marched 
at once and took possession of the railway depot which 
afforded communication with Matanzas, so that in the 
event of a reinforcement of troops coming unexpectedly 
from that city by rail, they might be intercepted. 

Colonel O'Hara and the remainder of the Kentucky 
Regiment, accompanied by General Lopez and his staff, 
were the next to land. Colonel O'Hara was sent to 
attack the barracks, in which some four hundred Spanish 
regulars were quartered. O'Hara 's force amounted to 
one hundred and eighty men, exclusive of those who 
were with Pickett. The Louisiana Regiment landed 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 



55 



immediately after, one hundred and thirty strong, and 
was sent to assist O'Hara; as was also the Mississippi 
Regiment, about one hundred and forty-five men, as 
soon as it was landed. 

The His force being assembled, O'Hara ordered 

Battle of a charge upon the barracks, leading it in per- 

Cardenas. 

son; and at the first fire of the enemy he 
received a disabling wound, which barely escaped being 
mortal. He was the first man hit; so his was the first 
foreign blood ever shed for Cuban liberty. When he fell 
the intrepid Major Hawkins assumed the command and 
gallantly led another charge. At this point General 
Lopez came up and directed his men to cease firing; and 
he boldly marched up to the barracks, alone, and 
demanded a surrender. This was agreed to; the stout 
doors were opened, and the fortress yielded. But while 
this was transacting the most of the garrison had escaped 
through a side door leading into the plaza. 

Colonel Wheat, of the Louisiana Regiment, being 
posted on a street in the rear of the barracks, supposed 
that the firing was a salute of honor to Lopez; and, rais- 
ing a cheer for "Lopez and Liberty," he rushed through 
a side street with his men, in order to join in the jubi- 
lation. This brought him to the plaza, where he was 
fired upon by the retreating Spaniards; and he, also, 



56 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

received a wound that disabled him. The fire of the 
Spaniards was returned and a number of them were 
killed, but their retreat was not checked; though shortly 
afterward they surrendered in a body. 

The Governor of the town, Senor Ceruti, with a body 
of troops, took refuge in his palace, which was gallantly 
defended when attacked by the Louisiana Regiment and 
one company of the Kentuckians. The Governor called 
a parley, and offered to surrender the palace; but when 
the Americans rushed forward to take possession of it 
they were treacherously fired upon by some of its 
defenders. Several of the assailants were wounded, 
including General Gonzales. Lopez, becoming exasper- 
ated at the perfidy of Governor Ceruti, seized a firebrand, 
and, rushing into the entrance that had already been 
effected by his men, set fire with his own hands to the 
building. The defense of the palace, however, was con- 
tinued as best it might be under the circumstances until 
eight o'clock the next morning, when the Governor and 
garrison surrendered unconditionally. Lopez's entire loss 
was three killed and nine wounded. 

Lopez now held undisputed and peaceable 

The 

Victory. possession of the town, and the Cubans flocked 

about him with every demonstration of sym- 
pathy and 'welcome; and, upon his solicitation, some 
forty or fifty of the captured Spanish regulars threw off 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 57 

the livery of Spain, donned the red shirts of the Liber- 
ators, and were mustered into the Army of Deliverance. 
Many of the natives also joined him; and there appears 
to be little or no doubt that if circumstances had been 
such as to admit of his proceeding according to his origi- 
nal plan, the Cardenas Expedition might have succeeded 
in establishing the free republic of Cuba. 

Colonel Pickett had not been idle at the Matanzas 
railway depot. He had seized upon all the rolling stock 
anywhere near it, and by the dawn of day had three loco- 
motives fired up and cars ready to transport the entire 
force to Matanzas. But this was not to be. It was 
known to a certainty that the large force of troops at 
Matanzas had been advised of what was going on at Car- 
denas, and could not now be surprised according to the 
plan; and as they could not be surprised, then there 
was no hope of taking Matanzas. Lopez therefore deter- 
mined to reship his men on board the Creole and head 
for Mantua, or some other point on the coast where he 
had personal friends; and where, as he had reason to 
believe, there were numerous friends to his cause, and 
from that point to begin the revolution anew. 

Therefore, at two o'clock on the after- 

The 

Retreat. noon of the twentieth of May, the troops 

were ordered on board the Creole, a movement 

which was effected only after considerable delay. While 



58 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

the embarkation was going on, Colonel Pickett, with his 
sixty Kentuckians, remained on shore to hold the town. 
While on this duty a force of some six or seven hundred 
Spaniards, under the command of a major-general, came 
in from their encampment in the healthy highlands some 
nine miles distant. The first attack was made "by a fine- 
looking body of mounted lancers, three hundred strong, 
who came down like a whirlwind upon Pickett's hand- 
ful of Kentuckians. These stood their ground man- 
fully, repulsing charge after charge, finally driving the 
enemy out of the town; when they too were embarked 
in safety upon the Creole. But the gallant Captain John 
A. Logan, scion of one of the most historic families of 
Kentucky, had been mortally wounded, and was borne 
aboard the ship in the arms of the chivalrous John T. 
Pickett and the knightly Thomas T. Hawkins, assisted 
by Augustine Martinas, a Mexican boy who had left his 
home and followed Captain Logan to Kentucky after the 
Mexican War was over. This lad's devotion to Captain 
Logan is said to have been touching. Logan died that day, 
and his body was committed to the deep. " Buried at 
sea, May 20, 1850," is the brief inscription on the cenotaph 
of this gallant man who gave his life for his fellow men. 
When the Spanish troops made their dash into the 
streets of Cardenas that afternoon, the Cubans who had 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 



59 



been so patriotically demonstrative and so effusively 
gracious to their liberators only that morning, at once 
turned their coats, got their guns, and joined with the 
regulars in the attack on Pickett's devoted little band. 
Not that their hearts were in this treachery, perhaps, 
for doubtless they had been perfectly sincere in their 
welcome to the Liberators, but long and bitter expe- 
rience with their Spanish masters had taught them that 
Cuba would not now suffice to hold them alive unless they 
could first demonstrate their loyalty to Spain by openly 
and actively showing hostility to the invaders. When 
the Spaniards had been driven out, Colonel Pickett recog- 
nized in one of their dead, left lying upon the street, a 
Cuban who had greeted him most cordially that morn- 
ing, and in the sincerity of whose devotion to the Cuban 
cause he had the utmost faith. The man saw the Amer- 
icans leaving, and the Spaniards coming, and he believed 
that he needs must turn his coat lest worse befall. The 
Spanish regulars who had joined Lopez remained with 
him, and were embarked upon the Creole along with 
the other troops. Lopez, so the Spaniards said, took 
a large sum of money from the public treasury of Car- 
denas. He certainly did take Governor Ceruti and two 
Spanish officers with him; but when well out at sea he 
hailed a passing fishing smack, upon which he placed 



60 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

them; and then bidding them to be good boys and take 
care of themselves, he set them adrift to make their way 
back as best they might, a task which they safely and 
speedily accomplished. 

Going out of Cardenas Bay, the Creole again went 
aground upon a sunken coral reef, and as it seemed 
impossible to get her off, and delay being dangerous, 
she was lightened by the casting overboard of all the 
heavy provisions, arms and ammunition. As this did 
not suffice to start her, the men were sent by boat to a 
little island near by. Being thus lightened, a press of 
steam was put on and the ship glided off the bar; and 
at half-past four in the afternoon she was again under 
way. The intention still was to head her for Mantua; 
but the men protested. They argued, and very wisely, 
that as their arms, munitions, and provisions were now 
at the bottom of the sea, it would be suicidal to attempt 
to prosecute the expedition further. Lopez wept, resigned 
his command, and desired to be landed alone in Cuba; 
the officers begged and expostulated, but the men 
remained firm in their determination to return to the 
United States. They had no objection, they said, to 
taking their chances in the fortunes of war when prop- 
erly equipped, but they had no mind to offer themselves 
as helpless and useless sacrifices, as must inevitably be 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 61 

the result if they should invade Cuba without arms or 
the sinews of war. By this time they were beginning 
to have their doubts as to whether the Cubans them- 
selves would render any assistance in their own cause. 
The Creole was therefore headed for Key West. At 
seven o'clock in the evening the Liberators found that 
they had missed the northwest passage, through which 
they had intended to go. They afterward considered 
this providential, when they learned that the Pizarro 
was quietly waiting for them in that pass, and would 
undoubtedly have sunk them, or made them prisoners, 
had they gone there. 

The At eight o'clock on the morning of the 

stem twenty-first of May, when within forty miles 

Chase. 

of Key West, which they could reach in about 
four hours, they perceived the smoke of the steamer 
Pizarro on the northwestern horizon, and nearer to Key 
West than they were. An hour later they were within 
thirty miles of Key West, carrying all the steam they 
dared, and more than was safe. They must outsail the 
Pizarro or they were lost; for to their right was a chain 
of islands, on the reefs of which they would go aground 
should they attempt flight in that direction; and on the 
left was the Pizarro, nearing them rapidly. It was appar- 
ent that she could outsail them, and great uneasiness 



62 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

was felt by all. But the Creole had such a lead that, 
notwithstanding the Pizarro' s greater speed, she would 
be unable to come up with the little ship until she 
had approached within five or six miles of Key West; 
and not even then, unless the Spaniard could get a 
pilot. 

Lopez hastily summoned a council of war to deter- 
mine what should be done in the event (which seemed 
imminent) of the Pizarro coming up with them. In the 
midst of the council a pistol fell, and exploding, the bullet 
passed through Major Hawkins' leg. Without the move- 
ment or twitching of a muscle to betray the pain he felt, 
he sat still until the council adjourned. The decision 
was reached that in case the Pizarro should overtake 
them they would grapple with her and board her, as they 
still had their pistols and knives; and in the event of 
not holding their own in this unequal contest, then they 
would blow up the Creole and destroy themselves and 
the Spaniard together, rather than be taken. Major 
Hawkins' companions had no suspicion that he was 
wounded until the council adjourned. 

Barrels of resin and unlimited supplies of coal were 
piled into the Creole's furnaces, and caution and pru- 
dence were thrown to the winds and forgotten. Although 
the Pizarro was the speedier ship, yet the Americans 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 63 

were now confident that the Creole could beat her into 
Key West — if nothing broke! 

Nearing Key West, the Pizarro, not knowing her way, 
stopped to pick up a pilot. The man knew well enough 
what was in the wind, and as his sympathies were with 
the Americans, he parleyed and dilly-dallied in order 
to give the Creole a still greater lead, until the commander 
of the Pizarro finally took him by force, and ordered him 
upon the peril of his life to catch the Creole. He soon 
discovered that he could do this, as the Pizarro could 
outrun her chase, and he then ran the Spaniard aground. 
This saved the Cuban Liberators, who went churning 
and frothing through the waves under a powerful head 
of steam into Key West harbor. They paid not the 
slightest attention to the port warden and health officer, 
who met them at the quarantine station and ordered 
them to stop, but kept straight on; and running about 
two hundred yards beyond the wharf, cast anchor, the 
long and desperate chase being over. They did not dream 
that the Spaniard would have the effrontery to enter 
an American harbor and attempt to take them there. 
But, before their anchor was fairly down, they saw the 
Pizarro steaming right into the harbor and bearing 
directly down upon them. At the distance of between 
three and four hundred yards she brought her broadside 



64 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

to bear upon the Creole, with the unmistakable inten- 
tion of raking her; but the United States ship, The Petrel, 
lay just beyond the Creole. Her commander, Lieutenant 
Rogers, ran up the stars and stripes, and then the 
Spaniard did not dare to fire. In the meantime the 
Creole unshipped her anchor and made the wharf, and 
within five minutes afterward the Liberators were all 
ashore, and scattered throughout the town. 

The captain of the Pizarro, with some of his officers, 
also came ashore; and seeking out the United States 
Marshal, who had been standing on the wharf an inter- 
ested spectator of these exciting incidents, he asked, 
with all the insolence he could command: 

" Why did you permit those pirates to land at Key 
West?" 

"If it comes to that," retorted the Marshal, "why 
did you permit them to land at Cardenas?" 

Many of the members of the expedition were stranded 
at Key West with little or no money; and it was some 
weeks before they were all supplied so they could return 
to their homes. Lopez himself was shortly afterward 
arrested at Savannah on the charge of leading a hostile 
expedition from the shores of the United States against 
a power with which this country was at peace; but as 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 65 

no testimony was submitted in support of the charge, 
he was acquitted. 

In its general results the Cardenas Expedition was 
considered a success by its friends, and by the people 
at large in the United States; so hardly a moment was 
lost in making preparations for another expedition, which, 
it was hoped, would accomplish all that was desired. 



66 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

III 
THE BAHIA HONDA EXPEDITION 

The results of the Cardenas Expedition having been 
satisfactory, so far as they went, and as it was believed 
that the expedition would actually have resulted in the 
establishment of Cuban independence, except that the 
plans miscarried by premature exposure, General Lopez 
had no great difficulty in again exciting considerable 
interest in his project among the people of the United 
States, and more especially in the Southern States. In 
all his efforts to this end he was ably seconded by Mr. 
L. J. Sigur, an exiled Cuban patriot of wealth, who was 
one of the principal owners of the New Orleans True Delta. 
This paper had a wide circulation in the South, and it 
bent all its energies and exerted all its influence toward 
building up an interest in Cuban independence that would 
result in strong expeditions of armed men from the United 
States going to Cuba to assist in the establishment of 
the purposed Cuban republic. 

In the meantime, the agents of Lopez were also active 
in the island of Cuba, stirring up the natives to the point 
of open revolt, they being assured that they would be 
strongly supported by armed forces from the United 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 67 

States in any attempt they might make to throw off 
the yoke of Spain. 

An Alleged ^ was extensively published m the United 

Revolt States that in July, 1851, the patriots of the 

in Cuba. 

town of Puerto Principe had arisen m revolt, 
and that on the fourth of the same month large numbers 
of them from this and other towns had met at Cascorro 
and issued a declaration of Cuban independence. A 
provisional government was established under the leader- 
ship of Don Joaquin de Aguero, and patriotic circulars 
were disseminated throughout the island urging the 
natives to rise and strike a blow for liberty. Lopez was 
formally invited to come over from the United States 
with such force as he could bring from thence, and to 
assume charge of the patriot army, as its general. Town 
after town pronounced for free Cuba, the principal ones 
being Puerto Principe, ^ibanicu, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, 
Trinidad, Santa Espiritu, and Las Tunas, the latter being 
for a time the capital of the provisional government. 
All this was published in the American newspapers, but 
it is believed now that there was very little, if any, foun- 
dation for any of it. It was also reported that the 
patriot army had enlisted several thousand men; and 
that these, although poorly armed and equipped, had 
practically won all the engagements they had had with the 



68 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

government troops. It was even published that four 
companies of Spanish regulars had gone over to the 
patriots in a body; and there was a feeling that nearly 
all of them then in the island would take advantage of 
the first favorable opportunity for doing the same thing. 
There seemed to be very good grounds for believing that 
the Spanish authorities in Havana had very little faith 
in the loyalty and fidelity of their own troops. 
Organizing At this juncture General Lopez, who for 

the more than a year had been working to bring 

Expedition. ,11 

matters to this pass, began to assemble and 
organize his forces in the United States. During the 
month of July, 1851, his unorganized recruits were given 
the word to assemble quietly in New Orleans, where they 
were secretly organized into companies and regiments, 
the officers of which were regularly commissioned. Mr. 
Sigur, of the New Orleans Delta, appears to have been 
the moving spirit of the whole affair; and it seems that 
he told the members of the proposed expedition that a 
revolt was regularly organized among the Creoles through- 
out Cuba; that they had elected General Lopez their 
leader; and that their object was to free Cuba from the 
tyranny of Spain, and either form a republic of their 
own or annex the island to the United States. He also 
told them that the expedition Lopez was about to take 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 69 

to Cuba would consist of some five hundred Americans; 
that his landing was to be the signal for a general 
rising throughout the island; and that within ten days 
after landing he would be at the head of an army of 
ten thousand men. 

The General Lopez had made arrangements by 

Kentucky which a splendid regiment of more than six 

Regiment. 

hundred Kentuckians, under his gallant young 
friend, Major Thomas T. Hawkins, was to arrive in New 
Orleans about the time he had first set for his own depar- 
ture for Cuba. His departure, however, was precipitated by 
the accounts of the Principe, Trinidad, and other risings; 
and instead of going to Cuba with the Kentucky Regi- 
ment, which had been organized for the expedition and 
was composed of the very best materials, he left that 
regiment to follow as a reinforcement, carrying with him 
a body of men who were really raised in New Orleans 
within forty-eight hours. Major Hawkins, with Colonel 
J. T. Pickett, arrived in New Orleans the day after 
Lopez's departure; and the regiment (nearly seven hun- 
dred men, all Kentuckians) arrived a few days after- 
ward, on the evening of the ninth and the morning of 
the tenth of August. Lopez's parting directions were 
not to let Hawkins lose twenty-four hours in starting. 
Pickett and Hawkins were all impatience to go — Hawkins 



70 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

generously resigning to his friend Pickett the rank in 
the regiment which was to have been his own. 

The original arrangement was that Colonel William 
Logan Crittenden was to command the Kentucky Regi- 
ment; but when Lopez's departure was precipitated by 
the accounts from Cuba, and he determined to convert 
this regiment into a reinforcement (instead of its form- 
ing the body of the main expedition, as was at first 
intended), Crittenden was not willing to be left behind, 
and hastily raised a small body of men, with the gallant 
Victor Ker and a few others of the flower of the young 
men of New Orleans, with whom he accompanied the 
expedition. The understanding then was that he would 
either have the command of a regiment of artillery, or 
else take command of the Kentucky Regiment which 
had been raised by Hawkins, under the direction of 
Lopez, through Crittenden; and which was expected to 
follow close upon Lopez's heels. 

Major Louis Schlesinger, of Hungary (late of Kossuth's 
band of defeated Hungarian patriots), who accompanied 
Lopez in this expedition, wrote afterward that "the 
Kentucky regiment was a most noble body of men — 
intelligent, steady, and reliable for anything; men from 
whom the strictest subordination and intelligent obedience 
could always have been looked for without fear of dis- 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 7 1 

appointment. Such men were these Kentuckians that, 
during the riots which followed the news of the Atares 
massacre, the city authorities of New Orleans actually 
committed chiefly to them the protection of the city 
by placing arms in the hands of five hundred of them 
for that purpose, in preference to calling on their own 
militia. Their conduct merited and received the highest 
praise from all quarters. Intelligence and self-respect 
supplied the place of discipline and training, and veteran 
troops could not have better obeyed and executed every 
order of their officers." 

The Major Schlesinger, in April, 185 1, had 

Expeditionary recm it e d in New York City several hundred 

Force. 

refugee Hungarian and Polish patriots for the 
Bahia Honda Expedition, but they were prevented from 
sailing for New Orleans by the United States authorities. 
Major Schlesinger was arrested and held for trial; but 
as the trial was postponed for several months he, in the 
meantime, went to New Orleans and joined the expedi- 
tion that left there in August. ' 

Lopez could not speak English, and he offered the 
command of the expedition first to Jefferson Davis, then 
a United States Senator, who declined, and recommended 
Robert E. Lee, then a major in the United States army, 
who also declined. 



72 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

The force that actually sailed for Cuba was constituted 
as follows: 

General and staff: General Lopez, commander-in- 
chief; General Pragay, chief of staff and second in com- 
mand; Colonel Blumenthal, Major Schlesinger, Captain 
Radnitz, Lieutenant Lewohl, Lieutenant Rekendorf (all 
Hungarians, except Lopez), Doctor Foumiquet, surgeon, 
and Gilman A. Cook, commissary. 

First Regiment of Infantry, under Colonel Robert 
L. Downman and Lieutenant-Colonel Haynes, consisting 
of Companies A, B, C, D, E, and F, the respective cap- 
tains of which were Ellis, Johnson, Brigham, Gouti (or 
Gotay), Jackson, and Stewart; two hundred and nine- 
teen, all told. Colonel Downman had served with dis- 
tinction in the Mexican War. 

First Regiment of Artillery, under Colonel Crittenden, 
consisting of Companies A, B, and C, under Captains 
Kelly, Sanders, and Ker, respectively; one hundred and 
fourteen strong. 

A nominal regiment of Cubans, called the First Regi- 
ment of Cuban Patriots, commanded by Captain Oberto. 

An independent company of Cubans, forty-nine strong. 

Nine Germans and nine Hungarians, under Captain 
Schlict. 

If transportation could have been secured to carry 
them to Cuba, thousands of men could have been 




COLONEL WILLIAM LOGAN CRITTENDEN. 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 73 

recruited in New Orleans. As it was, when they reached 
Balize, Lopez sent back a number of his men, as the 
ship was overcrowded. 

Colonel Colonel William Logan Crittenden was a 

William L. graduate of the Military Academy at West 

Crittenden. 

Point; had served with distinction and con- 
spicuous gallantry in the Mexican War; and he resigned 
his commission in the regular army of the United States 
for the purpose of accompanying Lopez in the expedi- 
tion for freeing Cuba; accepting in the meantime, how- 
ever, a position in the custom house at New Orleans. 
He was descended from the most distinguished families 
of Virginia and Kentucky. His paternal grandfather, 
John Crittenden, had served with distinction as major 
of a Virginia regiment in the Revolutionary War, and 
was among the earlier settlers of Kentucky; his maternal 
grandfather was the intrepid Colonel John Allen, who 
fell at the River Raisin in 1813; and one of his great- 
grandfathers was General Benjamin Logan, the bravest 
and the best of all the early Kentucky pioneers. About 
the time that Colonel William Logan Crittenden resigned 
from the United States army to cast his lot with Lopez, 
his uncle, the eloquent and distinguished John J. Critten- 
den, resigned his seat as Governor of Kentucky to accept 
the position of Attorney- General of the United States. 



74 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

Lopez could have had no more valuable acquisition to 
his cause than Colonel Crittenden, who was so highly 
connected in the United States; socially, politically, and 
officially; and who united in his own person all the quali- 
fications necessary for the prosecution of an heroic and 
desperate undertaking. He was at that time just about 
twenty-eight years old, tall, handsome, talented, a born 
hero, a born soldier, and brave beyond compare. 

When Colonel Crittenden started on the expedition, 
General Felix Houston remained on the Pampero until 
she sailed. He said Crittenden then told him he was 
satisfied that an expedition at that time was premature, 
but that matters had progressed too far for him to with- 
draw with honor, and that he felt he must go on. 

This expedition, which is known in history 
The 

Embarkation. as the Bahia Honda Expedition, left New 
Orleans at daybreak on the morning of Sun- 
day, August 3, 185 1, in the steamer Pampero, which 
Mr. Sigur had purchased for seventy-five thousand dol- 
lars, out of his own funds, for the purpose. Her engines 
being out of order, she had to be towed to the mouth 
of the river; and she remained there until the sixth, leav- 
ing at five o'clock in the afternoon that day, through 
the northeast pass. It was then understood that the 
intention was to go to Key West and there take on a pilot 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 75 

for the River St. Johns, at which place they were to 
embark a battery of light artillery with caissons, ammu- 
nition, and harness complete, together with a number 
of cavalry saddles; and from thence they were to run 
to the south side of Cuba and land as near as possible 
to the town of Puerto Principe — probably at Santa Cruz, 
its nearest port. This town was in the very midst of 
the disaffected and rebellious section of the island, and 
was in the general region where, as had been published 
in the United States, quite a considerable force of patriots 
were already organized and under arms. Had Lopez 
carried out his original intention of landing on this part 
of the island, the result of the expedition might have 
been wholly different; for he might there have found 
friends, and no doubt could have raised sufficient force 
to maintain himself until reinforcements could be sent 
from the United States. 

A The Pampero reached Key West on the 

Council of tenth of August, anchoring some distance 

War. 

from the town for reasons of state. No pilot 
could be found, so about dusk the general called a council 
of war, composed entirely of the Cubans and Hungarians 
on his staff or among his line officers. Of the Hungarians 
there were several who had served with the army of 
liberation in Hungary, under Kossuth, and who had been 



76 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

compelled to leave their native land after the failure of 
their cause. The most distinguished of these were Gen- 
eral John Pragay and Colonel Blumenthal. Captains 
Victor Ker, of Crittenden's regiment, and James Ellis, 
of the infantry, had also fought with Kossuth for Hun- 
garian independence, going from America to Hungary 
for that purpose. 

No American officers, it is said, were called to sit with 
this council of war, which fact seems strange indeed, 
since if the enterprise was to succeed at all it must be 
mainly through the efforts and influence of the Ameri- 
cans. The deliberations of the council resulted in a deter- 
mination to give up going to the St. John's River — 
thus leaving the expedition entirely without artillery — 
and to run immediately for the north coast of Cuba, 
which was done about ten o'clock that night. It is 
stated that the trip to St. John's was abandoned 
because the ship was insufficiently coaled, and that 
either the trip to St. John's had to be omitted, or 
the expedition abandoned. 

It is stated that when Lopez arrived at 

Lopez 

Deceived. Key West he found awaiting him there a 

letter from a well-known speculator in Havana, 

in whom he had confidence, informing him falsely that 

the people of the Vuelta Abijo and of Pinar del Rio were 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 77 

in full revolt, and that he would accordingly do well to 
go there with his force. This advice he determined to 
follow, not suspecting its treachery, or that it was a trap 
set for him by Captain-General de la Concha. 

When day dawned on the eleventh they 

Nearing 

Cuba. found that owing to the variation of the com- 

pass, from muskets having been stacked near 
it, they were several points out of their course, and 
within plain view of the Moro Castle, at Havana, which 
was only some ten miles distant. Supposing themselves 
unseen from the Castle, they immediately headed to 
the northward and westward, and were soon out of sight 
of land. As a matter of fact, however, they had been 
sighted and signaled from the Moro; and upon their sus- 
picious retreat the Spanish vessel Pizarro, then in Havana 
harbor, was sent out to investigate, but being delayed 
did not come within sight of the Pampero that day. 

About three o'clock in the afternoon Lopez came 
up with the Spanish schooner Cetilia, out of which he took 
the captain and mate to act as pilots, giving them to 
understand that they would be shot if they showed any 
disposition to escape or deceive. An hour later he again 
stood in for land; and as soon as it was dark sent a boat 
in shore to reconnoiter, which was hailed by a sentry on 
the walls of a fort situated near Bahia Honda, the ship 



78 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

being not more than a mile from it. The boat then 
returned to the ship and reported. Immediately all 
lights on board were extinguished, a press of steam was 
put on, and the vessel was run to the westward along 
the coast. About ten o'clock, while running in charge 
of a pilot and under a full head of steam, the ship sud- 
denly struck; and before the engine could be stopped, 
had run more than her length upon a coral reef. After 
examining her situation it was found that she was lying 
in about eight feet of water, while her draft was more 
than nine feet; and that it was necessary the force should 
be landed immediately. This was done with all possible 
despatch. The first boats that approached the shore 
were fired upon by a party of about twenty civilians, 
who incontinently fled when their fire was returned from 
the boat, which contained Captain Gouti (a Cuban com- 
manding an American company), Lieutenant Laningham, 
and about thirty privates of his company. One of 
Gouti 's men was wounded in the arm, and returned to 
the ship. Lieutenant Laningham's cap was cut into 
halves upon his head by a musket ball. 
Welcomed So, instead of finding the Creoles their 

with friends, the little army of Liberators received 

Bloody Hands. 

as the first salutation from the people they 
had come to free, a volley of musketry fired with the 
most hostile and deadly intent. They found no large 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 79 

body of enthusiastic friends, with horses, stores, and 
supplies for their use, as they had been led to expect. 
Instead of finding the Creoles their friends, they found 
them their most bitter enemies — much more so than 
the Spanish troops were, as after events were to prove. 
The Creoles, or native Cubans, it is said, kept the gov- 
ernment troops constantly informed of the movements 
of the Liberators; hanging upon their flanks, and putting 
to death without hesitation and without mercy all who 
straggled or fell behind upon the march. 
The About two o'clock on the morning of the 

Disembarka= twelfth of August the last of Lopez's little 

tion. 

army were disembarked upon the shores of 
Cuba. They were just four hundred and fifty-three 
strong, all told. The landing was effected at the village 
of Morillos, some twelve miles west of Bahia Honda, and 
seventy miles from Havana. The Pampero immediately 
returned to Key West, making the trip in safety. While 
going into Bahia Honda harbor she had been sighted 
by the Pizarro, which was on the lookout for her, and 
which steamed at once to Havana and gave the alarm. 
Preparations were immediately begun there to embark eight 
hundred men upon the Pizarro, to go without delay to 
Bahia Honda; to be followed, as soon as they could be 
embarked, by as many more troops as could be crowded 



80 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

upon two other vessels then available, the Habanero 
and the Almendares. 

The men of the expedition were armed with con- 
demned muskets, and had no rifles; but many of them 
had revolvers and knives of their own. They after- 
ward took an abundance of guns and cartridges 
from the Spaniards. 

Lopez Marches At daylight Lopez sent a pronunciamento 
into the to L as Pozas, a small village about ten miles 

Interior. . 

from the coast, in which he informed the 
inhabitants there that he was about to march to that 
place, and would give an opportunity to all who desired 
the freedom of Cuba to join him. He set out at eight 
o'clock to march to Las Pozas, taking with him the regi- 
ment of infantry commanded by Colonel Downman, 
composed of three hundred and twenty-three men ; and 
leaving Colonel Crittenden at Morillos with one hundred 
and thirty men. No means had been found at this vil- 
lage for transporting the baggage and stores into the 
interior; so the General commanded Colonel Crittenden 
to remain there and protect the stores, consisting of one 
hundred thousand musket cartridges, three thousand 
muskets, and seven hundred pounds of powder in kegs, 
together with the personal baggage of all the officers. 
Lopez was to send back wagons or other means of trans- 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 81 

portation from Las Pozas, where he said he would remain 
until Crittenden could join him. He sent no wagons 
back; and Colonel Crittenden, after a good deal of trouble, 
succeeded in getting possession of two large carts, each 
drawn by a single yoke of oxen, upon which the stores 
were loaded. It was found the loads were so heavy that 
they could not be drawn by single yokes of oxen. Colonel 
Crittenden was then under the necessity of sending out 
and securing two more yoke of oxen, which caused con- 
siderable delay. It was not until eleven o'clock at night 
that he was able to leave Morillos and set out to join 
Lopez at Las Pozas. 

In the meantime, the Pizarro had reached Bahia 
Honda and had landed eight hundred Spanish troops, 
under the command of Lieutenant-General Enna; who, 
receiving full information of Lopez's movements, as well 
as of Crittenden's situation, at once took up his line of 
march for San Miguel, a hamlet between Morillos and 
Las Pozas, intending thus to get in between the two sec- 
tions of the Liberator army, and then destroy each in 
detail. Enna's troops left Bahia Honda at about the 
same time that Crittenden's left Morillos. 
The Fight The carts being heavily loaded and the 

at roads very bad, Crittenden's progress was 

San Miguel. 

necessarily quite slow, his advance being at 
the rate of about a mile an hour. About daylight on 



82 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

the morning of the thirteenth he reached the hamlet of 
San Miguel, which did not consist of more than a store 
and a grog shop. This was about four miles from Las 
Pozas. The advance guard halted here, and the main 
body came up; but the rear guard and the carts were 
still a quarter of a mile behind. The men stopped here 
to breakfast, at which they were busily engaged, their 
arms being laid aside, when they were surprised by the 
report of a volley of musketry and the whistling of balls 
over their heads. These, it was found, proceeded from 
a body of Enna's troops, which they estimated to be 
five hundred strong. The Americans at once seized 
their guns and fired upon the enemy, killing nine and 
taking one prisoner, none of their own men being injured. 
The Spanish troops immediately fell back precipitately; 
and, not appearing again after the lapse of some little 
time, Colonel Crittenden decided that it was merely 
a foraging party that had attacked him; and the rear 
guard and the carts having come up, he ordered the men 
to resume their breakfast. Nothing loth, they fell to 
with energy; and, after about ten minutes, they were 
attacked again by the whole force of the enemy, who 
had the advantage of position, being posted on the brow 
of a hill overlooking the American line, with a belt of 
chapparal some three hundred yards wide intervening, 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 83 

over which the Americans could not fire. Colonel Crit- 
tenden immediately gave the order to charge, leading 
himself, and forced the Spaniards to fall back to a large 
body of chapparal some seventy-five or eighty yards in 
the rear of their first position. From this vantage ground 
they opened a heavy fire upon the Americans as soon as 
they appeared upon the brow of the hill. Finding he 
could not maintain this position, Crittenden ordered a 
retreat to the hamlet, while Enna resumed his first posi- 
tion upon the hill, and again opened fire. Crittenden 
then ordered a second charge, at the same time sending 
a portion of his little force to flank the enemy on the 
right, and to charge from that side at the same moment 
that he charged from the front. This was attempted; 
but the result of the movement was to let the enemy in 
between the two sections of the little force. Captain 
J. A. Kelly, who made the flank attack, managed to fight 
his way through the Spanish lines; and, being cut off 
from Crittenden, whom he could not now assist, he suc- 
ceeded in effecting a junction with Lopez, at Las Pozas, 
with his detachment of eighty men, abandoning the bag- 
gage and stores. 

Captain Kelly was welcomed heartily by Lopez when 
he reached Las Pozas with his troops. Kelly had 
expected to find Crittenden there, but not doing so, he 



84 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

wished the whole force to go back and ascertain what 
had become of him, as he had some of the best men of 
the command with him. To this Lopez objected, on the 
ground that he had sent two companies to Crittenden's 
relief, but it was impossible for them to get to him 
through the Spanish lines. He added that his troops 
were already under marching orders, and it was abso- 
lutely necessary that he should leave there without delay, 
as he would again be attacked by the Spanish troops 
in the morning, with artillery. He intended to make 
for the mountains, where he expected to meet some Cuban 
troops who were said to be in arms there. 

Colonel Crittenden and his detachment of 

The Fate of 

Crittenden fifty men were completely surrounded; but, 
and fighting gallantly and against heavy odds, 

His Men. 

they cut through the enemy's line toward 
the coast, and took refuge in the dense chapparal; and 
as they could not be dislodged from thence, they were 
not molested further at that time, the whole force of the 
enemy going on to join in the operations against Lopez 
at Las Pozas. This was on the thirteenth of August. 
Crittenden made several attempts to join Lopez, and 
might have done so had not the latter, on the fourteenth, 
retreated hastily from Las Pozas into the mountains. 
After wandering about in the chapparal for two days, 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 85 

on the fifteenth Crittenden and his men entered the town 
of Morillos at ten o'clock in the morning, and put to sea 
in four small fishing boats they found there. They hoped 
to be picked up by an American vessel, or else to make 
their way to Key West or to Yucatan, neither of which 
was more than one hundred miles from where they 
started. One man of the party, Daniel Gano, of New 
York, refused to go into the boats, and fled to the moun- 
tains, where he was taken prisoner after Concha's procla- 
mation of quarter to the invaders had been published. 
When well out at sea they were sighted by the Spanish 
steamer Habanero, which gave chase and came up with 
them near the pass of the Alcranes, about two miles from 
the banks of a desolate reef. 

They were fired upon by the Spaniards, and returned 
the fire; but seeing that the artillery carried by the 
Habanero could hardly fail to sink their boats, they pro- 
posed to the officer in command, Senor Bustillo, the Gen- 
eral of Marine, an officer nearly equal in rank to the 
Captain-General of Cuba himself, that they would sur- 
render on the condition that their lives were spared, and 
that they should be treated in all respects as prisoners 
of war. These terms were agreed to, and upon these 
terms they surrendered. The Captain-General of Cuba, 
Senor Jose de la Concha, chose to utterly disregard the 



86 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

terms of the surrender; and this he did upon the ground 
that the General of Marine "had no business to make 
terms with pirates." Admiral Bustillo's force, that 
effected this capture, consisted of three hundred and fifty 
soldiers and sailors. 

The Habanero, with the exultant captors and unhappy 
captives, reached Havana at half -past ten o'clock on 
the morning of the sixteenth of August. The victims 
were there immediately transferred on board the ship 
Esperanza, where they were tried by a drumhead court 
martial, and ordered to be shot at once. It is said that 
at first it was the intention to execute only one out of 
every five of these unfortunate prisoners, but that they 
all had to be shot to appease the thirst for blood of "the 
loyal Catalans," a body of Spanish traders in Havana 
who were rapidly acquiring great fortunes through syste- 
matic robbery of the native Cubans. 

The Captain-General issued the following proclama- 
tion, ordering the execution of Colonel Crittenden and 
his fifty comrades — fifty-one men in all: 

"The fate which must befall pirates who dare to profane the soil 
of this island, having been expressed in the general orders of the 20th 
of April last, and subsequently republished, and the declaration of 
the fifty individuals who have been apprehended by the most excel- 
lent Senor Commandant of this Apostodero, and placed at my dis- 
position, having been received, and it being apparent from this that 
the persons arrested belonged to the horde headed by the traitor 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 87 

Lopez, I have resolved, in accordance with the directions in the royal 
ordinance, general laws of the kingdom, and especially in the general 
order of June 12th of the year before last, issued to meet this par- 
ticular contingency, that this day the said persons, whose names are 
expressed in the subjoined list, shall suffer death by being shot; the 
direction of the execution being confided to Senor Lieutenant Rey, 
of the Plaza." » 

The The fifty-one victims of Spanish malice 

"Strong in w hose names were appended to this order 

Heart." 

consisted of forty Americans (Kentuckians pre- 
dominating), four Irishmen, two Cubans, two Hunga- 
rians, one Italian, one Scotchman, and one Philippine 
Islander. Their names, to some extent, appeared differ- 
ently in the lists that were published in the United States, 
and in the following list the variations are indicated by 
being inclosed in brackets: 

Officers. 

Colonel William Logan Crittenden. 
Captain Victor Ker. 
Captain Fred S. Sawyer. 
Captain T. S. Vesey (J. B. Veasey). 
Lieutenant James Brandt. 
Lieutenant John O. Bryce. 
Lieutenant Thomas C. James. 
Adjutant R. C. Stanford. 
Surgeon H. Forniquet (Tourniquet). 
Hospital Steward John Fisher. 
Sergeant Napoleon Collins (Colling). 
Sergeant A. M. Crockett (Cotchett). 
Sergeant G. M. Green. 
Sergeant J. M. Salmon. 
Sergeant J. A. Witherens. 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 



Privates. 



George W. Arnold. 

M. H. Ball. 

P. Barrourk (Baronk). 

James Bylet. 

Robert Caldwell. 

Robert Cantley (Cundley). 

John Chilling. 

John Christides (Cristides). 

E. T. Collins (E. J.). 

Gilman A. Cook. 

Patrick Dillon. 

James Ellis. 

N. H. Fisher. 

Thomas Hartnett (Harnett). 

Thomas Hearsey. 

Anselmo Torres Hernandez. 

William Hogan. 

William H. Holmes. 



S. C. Jones (S. S.). 

William B. Little. 

Alexander Mcllcer (Mcllser). 

James L. Manville (James R.). 

Samuel Mills. 

William Niceman (Niseman). 

M. Phillips. 

Samuel Reed. 

Charles A. Robinson. 

A. Ross (Roys). 
Edward Rulman. 
John G. Sanka (Sunks). 

C. C. William Smith (C. W.). 

James Stanton. 

John J. Stubbs. 

James Tantum. 

H. T. Vienne (Vinne). 

B. J. Uregy (Wregy). 



The prisoners asked to be allowed to see the Ameri- 
can Consul, but this was denied them. They were curtly 
informed that they were outlaws and pirates, without 
any country to whose protection they could appeal, or any 
flag except the Jolly Roger. However, they were gra- 
ciously given half an hour in which such of them as were 
disposed might write letters to their friends. Most of 
them availed themselves of this opportunity; and their 
letters were taken in charge and afterward faithfully 
delivered by Mr. Antonio da Costa, a Spanish merchant 
with houses in both New Orleans and Havana, who per- 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 89 

sonally knew many of them, and of whose loyalty to 
Spain the Spanish authorities at Havana had no doubt. 
Colonel The letter that Colonel William Logan 

Crittenden's Crittenden wrote on that occasion to his friend, 

Letter. 

Doctor Lucien Hensley, may serve as the 
truest index to his nature. It breathes a spirit of real 
heroism, without the slightest suspicion of bravado. 
After reading it one does not doubt that he died " Strong 
in Heart." It was stained with blood, from his lacerated 
wrists; and was as follows: 1 

Ship of War Esperanza, August 16, 1851. 
Dear Lucien: 

In half an hour I with fifty others am to be shot. We were taken 
prisoners yesterday. We were in small boats. General Lopez sepa- 
rated the balance of the command from me. I had with me about 
one hundred. Was attacked by two battalions of infantry and one 
company of horse. The odds were too great, and strange to tell, I 
was not furnished with one single musket cartridge. Lopez did not 
get any artillery. I have not the heart to write to any of my family. 
If the truth ever comes out you will find that I did my duty and have 
the perfect confidence of every man with me. We had retired from 
the field and were going to the sea, and were overtaken by the Span- 
ish steamer Habanero, and captured. Tell General Houston that his 
nephew got separated from me on the 13th, the day of the fight, and 
that I have not seen him since. He may have straggled off and joined 
Lopez, who advanced rapidly to the interior. My people, however, 
were entirely surrounded on every side. We saw that we had been 
deceived grossly, and were making for the United States when taken. 
During my short sojourn in this island I have not met a single patriot. 

1 This letter is still in existence, and is in the possession of ex-Governor Thomas 
T. Crittenden, of Missouri. 



90 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

We landed some forty or fifty miles to the westward of this, and I 
am sure that in that part of the island Lopez has no friends. When 
I was attacked Lopez was only three miles off. If he had not been 
deceiving us as to the state of things he would have fallen back with 
his forces and made fight. Instead of which he marched immediately 
to the interior. I am requested to get you to tell Mr. Green, of the 
custom house, that his brother shares my fate. Victor Ker is also 
with me; so, also, Standford. I recollect no others of your acquaint- 
ance present. I will die like a man. My heart has not failed me yet. 
Nor do I believe it will. Communicate with my family. Tell my 
friend on Philippa street that I had better have been persuaded to 
stay; that I have not forgotten him, and will not in the moment of 
death. This is an incoherent letter, but the circumstances must 
excuse me. My hands are swollen to double their thickness, result- 
ing from having been too tightly corded for the last eighteen hours. 
Write to Whistlar; let him write to my mother. I am afraid that 
the news will break her heart. My heart beats warmly toward her 
now. Farewell. My love to all my family. I am sorry that I die 
owing a cent, but it is inevitable. 

Yours, Strong in Heart, 

W. L. Crittenden. 

He then wrote the following lines to his uncle, 
Honorable John J. Crittenden, at that time Attorney- 
General of the United States: 

Dear Uncle: 

In a few minutes some fifty of us will be shot. We came here 
with Lopez. You will do me the justice to believe that my motives 
were good. I was deceived by Lopez. He, as well as the public 
press, assured me that the island was in a state of prosperous revo- 
lution. I am commanded to finish writing at once. I will die like 
a man. 1 

1 See Appendix for letters of several of Colonel Crittenden's companions. 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 91 

After writing the farewell letters to their 

The 

Massacre. friends, the unfortunate men were carried 
to Castle Atares, at the head of Havana har- 
bor, about three quarters of a mile from the city of 
Havana, for execution; and it was upon the slope of the 
hill in front of this fortification that they bravely met 
their fate. 

They were marched down the Esperanza's gangway, 
one by one, stripped to trousers and shirt, some even 
without shirts, bareheaded, and their hands tied tightly 
behind their backs — "a pale train, hurried by the minions 
of despotism toward the realm of ghosts." From the 
ship's gangway they walked into a ferry boat, which 
carried them to the place of execution. One who wit- 
nessed the scene said: "I never saw men (and could 
scarcely have supposed it possible) conduct themselves 
at such an awful crisis with the fortitude these men dis- 
played. ... A finer looking body of young men I never 
saw. They made not a single complaint, not a murmur 
against their cruel fate." 

The United States ship Albany was in Havana harbor 
at the time, anchored about two hundred and fifty yards 
from the Esperanza; and the sailors belonging to her 
were thrown into a state of violent excitement when 
they saw those gallant Americans filing into the ferry 



92 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

boat, to be carried to a terrible death. In a body they 
waited upon their commander, Captain Randolph, and 
asked permission to land and prevent the execution; 
and desired him to turn his batteries upon the town. 
When the firing was heard at the execution, they wanted 
the flag of the Albany struck. 

All the troops then in Havana, some twelve hundred 
(the others having been despatched in chase of Lopez), 
were formed in a square where the butchery was to take 
place, wearing their war uniforms, with blouses and straw 
hats; and surrounding these were thousands of the citi- 
zens of Havana, who came out to gloat over the massacre, 
considering this brutal exhibition rather better than a 
bull fight. The Mayor of the Plaza read the edict that 
usually preceded such executions; and then all was ready 
for the terrible tragedy. 

The victims, bound securely, were brought out of 
the boat twelve at a time; of these, six were blindfolded 
and made to kneel down with their backs to the soldiers, 
who stood some three or four paces from them. These 
six executed, the other six were put through the same 
ghastly ceremony; then twelve others were brought from 
the boat; and so on, until the terrible and sickening 
tragedy was over. As each lot were murdered their 
bodies were cast aside to make room for the next lot. 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 93 

An eyewitness says of these martyrs to liberty: 
" They behaved with firmness, evincing no hesitation or 
trepidation whatever." Among those shot was a lad of 
fifteen who begged earnestly on his knees that some one be 
sent to him who could speak English, but not the slightest 
attention was paid to him. One handsome young man 
desired that his watch be sent to his sweetheart. After 
the first discharge those who were not instantly killed 
were beaten upon the head until life was extinct. One 
poor fellow received three balls in his neck, and, raising 
himself in the agonies of death, was struck by a soldier 
with the butt of a musket and his brains dashed out. 

Colonel Crittenden, as the leader of the party, was 
shot first, and alone. One of the rabble pushed through 
the line of soldiers, and rushed up to Crittenden and 
pulled his beard. The gallant Kentuckian, with the 
utmost coolness, spit in the coward's face. He refused 
to kneel or to be blindfolded; saying in a clear, ringing 
voice: "A Kentuckian kneels to none except his God, 
and always dies facing his enemy!" 1 — an expression 
that became famous. Looking into the muzzles of the 
muskets that were to slay him, standing heroically erect 
in the very face of death, with his own hands, which had 
been unbound at his request, he gave the signal for the 

'See Appendix. 



94 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 



fatal volley; and died, as he had lived, "Strong in 
Heart." Captain Ker also refused to kneel. They stood 
up, faced their enemies, were shot down, and their brains 
were beaten out with clubbed muskets. 

• After the murder, some of the Spanish 
Brutality. officers plunged their swords into the lifeless 
bodies of their, victims and turned and twisted 
them around in the wounds. The corpses were then 
given over to a bloodthirsty mob, composed of the lowest 
and vilest rabble, both white and black, of the city of 
Havana, who spat upon them, kicked them, and dragged 
them about by the heels. Many of the bodies were muti- 
lated in the most horrible and shocking manner; the 
ears, noses, and other members being cut off and carried 
away by the brutal and frenzied mob, and exhibited in 
the streets and public houses of the city. When the 
mob had wreaked its malice to satiety, the bodies, which 
had been stripped and robbed of their clothing, were 
thrown in their naked and mutilated condition, six or 
seven together, into old hearses that had been used the 
year before for cholera victims. No coffins were allowed, 
but the hearses were driven through the streets of Havana 
with the bloody bodies in many instances hanging half 
in and half out of their ghastly receptacles, looking more 
like animals just from the shambles than like men who 



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Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 



95 



had been made "in the image of God." Being "heretics" 
as well as "pirates," there was no sepulture in consecrated 
ground for them; so they were carted ignominiously to 
the heretic section of the old Espada cemetery, just 
behind and contiguous to the San Lazaro hospital, and 
there tumbled without ceremony into a common trench, 
their bodies being covered with quicklime and with little 
else. After a few years, in accordance with a peculiarly 
Spanish custom which requires the removal of the remains 
of people whose families do not own permanent vaults, 
the bones of these heroes and martyrs were exhumed 
and thrown into the common bone-heap of the cemetery. 
These young men, brave, gallant, ardent, went to 
Cuba in the sacred names of Liberty and Humanity 
to free an oppressed people from the most atrocious 
tyranny and unspeakable and persistent outrages — and 
this is what they got! 

indignation The murder of Colonel Crittenden and his 

in the fifty comrades created an outburst of indig- 

United States. 

nation in the United States that was hardly 
exceeded forty-seven years later when the Maine was 
blown up in Havana harbor. The indignation was all 
the greater because at almost the very moment that these 
men were being assassinated, the commander of the 
Habanero, being fully advised of what was then going 



96 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

on in Havana, deliberately and coolly fired upon the 
American steamer Falcon at Bahia Honda. This was a 
sufficient cause for war, and should have brought on a 
war between the United States and Spain, whose apolo- 
gies for the incident, humbly tendered though they were, 
should have been declined, under the circumstances. 

All over the United States large and enthusiastic 
indignation meetings were held, and resolutions were 
passed appealing to and urging the Government to avenge 
the death of Crittenden and his men, and to wipe out with 
blood the insult that had been given to our national dig- 
nity by the shots fired at the Falcon. Troops were openly 
recruited to go independently to the aid of Lopez under 
the leadership of General Felix Houston, whom the 
Spaniards called Melocoton\ — "a Peach." Reports were 
then coming thick and fast that Lopez was more than 
holding his own with his little band of three hundred 
adventurers, against the full power of Spain in Cuba. 

The popular indignation was also exercised to a great 
degree against our Consul in Havana, Mr. Allen F. Owen, 
of Georgia, because he had not prevented the massacre 
of Crittenden and his men. Mr. Owen was really power- 
less in the matter, and would not have been allowed to 
so much as see those unfortunate men, even if he had 
tried. But the President had to recall him in order to 
appease the wrath of the people. 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 97 

The Government at Washington did go so far as to 
order the United States warship Saranac, Commodore 
Parker, to go to Havana and demand full explanations, 
both as to the execution of Crittenden's men and the 
firing on the Falcon. The Saranac sailed from Norfolk 
on the twenty-sixth of August, reaching Havana two 
or three days later. Something might have grown out 
of this except for the fact that Lopez's little army was 
by this time totally disrupted and captured, and he him- 
self executed. Spain apologized very humbly for firing 
on the Falcon; and the incident was closed, to remain 
closed until the memorable year 1898, when all her 
insults and injuries to our country and our countrymen 
were fully avenged, and she was humbled to the dust. 

It is now necessary to go back to the thir- 

Lopez's 

Campaign. teenth of August, when Crittenden's little 
command was cut in two at San Miguel, 
three or four miles from Las Pozas, where Lopez 
was stationed with his main army, consisting of three 
hundred and twenty-five men. It does not appear that 
he made any effort to assist Crittenden when the latter 
was attacked at San Miguel by a force so largely superior 
in numbers to his own. Captain Kelly, commanding 
eighty of Crittenden's troops, succeeded in joining Lopez 
at Las Pozas; but, being followed by the Spanish force, 



98 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

which by this time was augmented by large reinforce- 
ments that had come to Bahia Honda on the Habanero 
and Almendares and hurried forward to Las Pozas, a 
general engagement was brought on here. 
The After a hard fight of more than two hours 

Battle at fa e Spaniards retreated, leaving Lopez master 

Las Pozas. 

of the field. General Enna lost more than 
two hundred men, killed and wounded, among whom 
were several of his highest officers. The Liberators' 
loss was about thirty killed, wounded, and missing; 
among whom were Colonel Downman and Lieutenant 
Labizan, killed; General Pragay and Captains Brigham 
and Gouti, mortally wounded. This loss reduced the 
force of the Liberators to about two hundred and ninety 
men. After the battle the Spanish wounded were brought 
into Lopez's lines and were as well taken care of as the 
circumstances would admit. Lopez himself rode entirely 
unarmed over the battlefield, through the hottest of the 
fire, and Lieutenant Van Vechten has stated that he 
occasionally applied a red rawhide quirt, that he carried 
in his hand, with a great deal of vigor to the shoulders 
of such men as he thought could be hurried into firing 
a little faster. These men must have been some Creoles 
that he had forced into his service at Las Pozas, and who 
afterward deserted him; for it is hard to believe that 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 



99 



there were any of his men from the United States who 
would not have instantly shot him on being struck with 
a whip. Major Schlesinger denies this story, and speaks 
of Lieutenant Van Vechten in very disrespectful terms. 

At two o'clock on the morning of the fourteenth of 
August Lopez left Las Pozas and marched into the 
adjacent mountains, leaving behind him thirteen of his 
men who were wounded, every one of whom was 
instantly bayoneted by the Spaniards when they came 
in, and their bodies were piled in a heap, cross-ways, 
at the bottom of a hill. 

The Lopez retreated at once to the hacienda, 

Battle of or coffee plantation, near Cayajavos, which 

Frias. 

had formerly belonged to him, but which had 
been confiscated about three years before; and was here 
resting and refreshing his troops when, on the sixteenth 
of August, he was attacked by three hundred lancers and 
six hundred infantry. The action lasted from eleven 
to two o'clock on one of the hottest days ever known, 
even in Cuba; and Lopez was again victorious, the enemy 
being compelled to retreat in great haste after a loss of 
three hundred and twenty men. Among these was Lieu- 
tenant-General Enna, who, it is said, was killed here at 
almost the exact moment that Crittenden was murdered 
in Havana. His body was taken by the Liberators, and 
HFC, 



ioo Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

sent tinder a flag of truce into the Spanish lines, with 
every mark of respect. 

The fight at Lopez's coffee plantation (Cafetal de 
Frias) was called the battle of Frias. It is claimed that 
the victory here was so complete that it would have 
accomplished Cuban independence if Lopez had been able 
to follow up his routed and panic-stricken enemies, or 
could have received or been co-operated with by any of 
the reinforcements he was expecting from the United 
States — even if they had landed in a totally different 
part of the island, and had done no more than to divert 
the attention and divide the forces of the Spaniards. 

If the Kentucky regiment had been despatched at 
once from New Orleans, according to Lopez's expecta- 
tions and orders, it could have landed two or three days 
after he did. Cuban affairs in New Orleans, however, 
were in the hands of a large committee which had been 
appointed at a mass-meeting of citizens. Whether from 
hesitation in regard to responsibility, or from insuffi- 
ciency of means or of transportation, it is certain that 
the action of the committee did not respond to the eager- 
ness of Pickett and Hawkins. Days lapsed, when hours 
were important. There was too much waiting for news, 
and then for more news. Finally came the news that 
all was over, and that it was now too late. 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba ioj 

From the public excitement prevailing at the time 
of his departure, Lopez had every reason to expect that 
the Kentucky Regiment, which was already on its way, 
would be promptly forwarded. He also left authority 
under which Colonels Wheat and Bell were empowered 
to each raise a regiment; and among the three regiments 
there were not less than three thousand men ready to 
follow him shortly after his departure. 

Lopez's loss in the battle of Frias was but slight, and 
his victory complete ; but at the same moment the retreat 
of the Spaniards in panic-stricken rout in one direction 
was announced to him, he issued an order for his own 
force to retreat in the opposite direction; and he actually 
on that day made a forced march of eighteen miles in 
five hours over a mountain road in Cuba! 
Arms and He then remained in the mountains, where. 

Ammunition on the eighteenth, his troops in encampment 

Ruined. 

underwent the sad experience of a tropical 
rainstorm, which destroyed the greater part of their 
ammunition and rendered their guns entirely useless. 
But for this mishap, Lopez might have been able to 
maintain himself in the mountains indefinitely, and per- 
haps to have formed the nucleus, with his little band, 
for refugee patriots from the eastern and southern por- 
tions of the island, where the spirit of revolt had appeared 
to be rampant only a short time before. 



102 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

A consultation of officers was now had, and they 
demanded that General Lopez should take them at once 
to where the patriot forces he had spoken of were sta- 
tioned; or at least to march to the southern coast, where 
they might embark for Jamaica or Yucatan. Lopez con- 
sented to their demand, and they started for the patriot 
rendezvous in the South; but the guide mistook the 
road and led them again toward the northeast. 

On the evening of the nineteenth Lopez encamped 
at a ranch at the foot of the mountains, about twelve 
miles from Bahia Honda, where he was undisturbed dur- 
ing the night. His force being now without ammuni- 
tion or serviceable arms, further fighting was of course 
out of the question; although they had hitherto defeated 
the Spaniards in every engagement, notwithstanding their 
largely superior numbers. 

On the morning of the twentieth, while 

The 

First Defeat, taking breakfast in their encampment at the 
ranch, they were again attacked, being taken 
by surprise; the sentry on the outpost having left his 
post to wash himself in a creek, where he was killed. 
Being practically unarmed, the Liberators were com- 
pletely routed, and fled to the mountains in every direc- 
tion. Lopez himself barely managed to make his escape 
on horseback, losing his saddle, pistols, and spyglass — 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 103 

everything, in fact, except what he wore. That night 
his dispirited little army encamped upon the top of one 
of the highest mountains in Cuba, exposed to all the vio- 
lence of a terrible norther, without either shelter, fire, 
or food. The sufferings they experienced that night are 
indescribable. The rain fell in torrents, cold as ice, and 
the terrors of the situation were constantly increased 
by the falling around them of massive trees, sometimes 
felled by the violence of the wind, and sometimes by the 
still mightier force of lightning. 

On the evening of the twenty-first, the troops having 
eaten nothing for forty-eight hours, General Lopez's 
horse was killed and divided among the one hundred 
and twenty-five men who were now all that remained 
with their chief. This little force wandered aimlessly 
about through the mountains, hardly knowing how to 
get out of them, and subsisting upon such edible leaves 
and roots as they could find, until Sunday, the twenty- 
fourth, when they succeeded in reaching the road that 
runs from Bahia Honda to San Cristobal. They advanced 
along this road until nearly night, when they came upon 
two Spanish lancers, who at once fled upon seeing them. 
A halt was immediately ordered, and an examination 
made into the state of the force; which showed a total 
of one hundred and twenty-five men, eighty muskets 



104 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

(about twenty of which were serviceable), and forty dry 
cartridges. Under this state of affairs it was deemed 
Disruption advisable to retreat, which was ordered. The 
of the enemy, who lay in ambush a few hundred 

Force. 

yards in advance, with a force of nine hundred 
men, at once began pursuit. Upon their approach Lopez's 
whole force separated into small bodies and dispersed 
through the mountains, throwing away their guns and 
everything that could encumber them in their flight. 
Only seven men remained with the General. A large 
number were overtaken and immediately killed. 

The largest of the scattered parties remained in the 
mountains until the morning of the twenty-sixth of 
August, when, having had but one meal in six days, and 
feeling that they could bear it no longer, they determined 
to go down into the plains, considering that it would be 
better to be killed outright than to die of the slow star- 
vation which certainly awaited them in the mountains. 
They accordingly advanced to a house, where they were 
treated with a great deal of kindness and were given 
an excellent breakfast. An arrangement was here made 
to secure a guide to the south coast, with provisions, etc., 
and they were about to leave and conceal themselves 
until night; when, all at once, they were surrounded 
by some three hundred Creoles (the people they had 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 105 

come to free), who immediately bound them all securely, 
and appropriated everything they could find in the 
prisoners' pockets. 

They were taken that day to San Cristobal; and until 
they reached that place they were under the impression 
that they were to be immediately shot, their only con- 
solation being that they were to die with full stomachs. 
At San Cristobal, however, they were informed that a 
proclamation had been issued ten hours before their cap- 
ture, sparing the lives of all filibusteros who were made 
prisoners or gave themselves up within four days, "except- 
ing always the traitor Lopez," after which an order dated 
April 24, 1850, by which all foreigners found in the island 
were to be put to death was again to be continued in 
full force. 

On the twenty-eighth, there being then forty-seven 
prisoners assembled, they were taken from San Cristobal 
and started for Havana, reaching Guyamus next day, 
the terminus of a railroad from Havana. There an order 
was received from the Captain-General directing that 
the prisoners be taken to Mariel for embarkation, he 
being fearful that they would be torn to pieces by the 
rabble of Havana if taken by rail. Reaching Mariel 
on the thirtieth, they were embarked on the steamer 
Almendares to proceed to Havana, when an express 



106 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

arrived bringing information of the capture of Lopez, 
and the steamer was delayed to await his arrival. 

On the night of the twenty-fourth of 
Lopez Taken. August Lopez disappeared from the mass of 
his band with a few of the Cubans who had 
come from New Orleans with him. On the twenty-eighth 
a young mountaineer appeared in the Spanish camp and 
reported that two hours before he had seen Lopez, with 
six unarmed followers; and that Lopez had offered him 
two hundred dollars, besides a draft for two thousand 
dollars, payable at sight in Havana, if he would guide 
him to the plantation of Diego de Tapia; but that sud- 
denly, a few moments after, as if doubting his fidelity, 
had ordered him away; and then separating from his 
followers, disappeared in the woods, accompanied only 
by a mulatto boy, his body servant, Pedro, who had 
come from New Orleans with him. He was captured 
in the Pinos de Raguel on the twenty-ninth of August, 
just seventeen days after his landing, by seventeen peas- 
ants of the country. 

Lopez was caught with bloodhounds. The dogs, 
being some distance in advance of the pursuing party, 
bit him severely in the left leg before they came up. 
The seventeen Creoles in the party that took him 
were each publicly presented with one thousand dollars 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 107 

and a cross of honor immediately after his execution, 
a few days later. 

General Lopez arrived at Mariel on the 

Execution of 

Lopez. thirty-first of August, when the Almendares 

immediately headed for Havana with her 
cargo of "pirates." Lopez was entirely at liberty on 
board the ship, and smoked his cigaretto with appar- 
ently as much unconcern as he ever did in his life. Out- 
side the harbor of Mariel he was transferred to the steam 
frigate Pizarro, which conveyed him to Havana, and he 
did not leave this ship until the morning of the second 
of September, when he was taken to the place of 
execution. 

The other prisoners were confined in the city prison, 
in the rear of the Punta. They passed through a regular 
process, their hair being cut close to their heads; then 
they were passed into the hands of another barber, who 
deprived them of their whiskers; then another man pro- 
vided them with a- prison uniform; and the exercises 
were terminated by a big negro, who securely fastened 
them in pairs with a chain similar in size and weight to 
a log chain. 

General Lopez was executed near the Punta, at seven 
o'clock on the morning of the second of September. He 
died by the garrote, as he was not deemed worthy of 



108 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

the death of a soldier by being shot. The whole space 
between the Punta fort and the Carcel was filled with 
troops, cavalry and infantry, who formed an immense 
square, in the midst of which was erected the scaffold, 
about twenty feet high, the top surrounded by a balcony; 
and in the center of the platform was the garrote. This 
consisted of a small upright post, at the back of which 
was an iron screw, and in front were the fatal collar and 
the chair in which the victim was to be seated. A pro- 
cession of priests with long black caps, carrying a black 
flag or banner, passed into the Punta, which was sur- 
rounded by soldiers; and about twenty minutes later, 
at the tolling of a bell, Lopez approached under guard, 
with a priest on either side. He was dressed in a long 
white garment resembling a shroud, with a hood which 
covered his head but did not conceal his features. The 
procession moved slowly across the square to the scaffold, 
which Lopez ascended with much firmness, together 
with the priests and one or two officers. The negro exe- 
cutioner had preceded him. On reaching the platform 
he knelt while the priests recited a prayer; on rising he 
took the crucifix in his hand and kissed it repeatedly. 
One of the officers on the scaffold then, in a loud tone, 
commanded silence; and in an instant the vast multi- 
tude that 'had assembled to witness the execution was 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 109 

as still as the grave. Lopez then spoke for a few minutes, 
concluding with these words: 

"My countrymen, pardon me for the evil, if any, I 
have caused you. I have not intended any evil, but good 
rather. I die for my beloved Cuba. Farewell!" 

He then seated himself in the chair, the executioner 
adjusted the collar around his neck, gave two turns with 
the screw, and the spirit of Narciso Lopez had sped from 
time into eternity. 

General Lopez had many wealthy relatives in Ha- 
vana. At the time of his execution his wife was 
in Paris; and his son, then eighteen years old, was 
at school in Switzerland. 

Attitude The following incident may be related as 

of the illustrating the character of the people whom 

Creoles. 

Lopez was endeavoring to free. Two of his 
men, badly wounded, were left at the house of a miser- 
able old Creole named Garcia. He treated them very 
well; but, being badly wounded, they died at his house. 
Shortly afterward the news of the disruption of Lopez's 
force reached him, and then this Cuban Parolles instantly 
produced his dead "pirates" to the authorities, alleging 
that he had slain them "for Queen and country." He 
was rewarded with a decoration; but the truth came to 
light after a while, Senor Garcia was compromised and 



no Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

was himself brought within the shadow of death, from 
which he escaped by a commutation of his sentence to a 
long term of penal servitude. 

During the whole of the invasion but two Creoles 
joined Lopez, and both of these were killed in battle. 
The Creoles appear to have everywhere opposed their 
liberators with the utmost hostility. At Aguacate they 
took and delivered twelve prisoners. The Spanish Colonel 
de Lago reported that on the twenty-sixth of August 
the hills about San Cristobal were full of Creoles, with 
dogs, in pursuit of the "pirates," and guiding the troops 
in the work of extermination. Commandant Sanchez 
reported that they offered him every aid. At Bahia 
Honda two of the invaders were captured at one time by 
peasants, sixteen at another time, and seven at still 
another; and on the twenty-second of August the people 
of Las Pozas shot ten who had fallen into their hands. 
Whatever may have been the wish of the wealthier 
Creoles for Cuban independence — provided others would 
achieve it for them — the small cultivators of the district 
where Lopez landed adhered to the royal cause. 

The Result According to the records they kept of the 

of the matter, the Spaniards were able to account 

Expedition. 

for two hundred and seventy-one men (includ- 
ing Crittenden's command) whom they had killed — 




CAPTAIN ROBERT H. BRECKENRIDGE. 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba m 

that is, in action, wounded men who were left on the 
field, sick and fatigued men who gave out on the march 
and were left behind, and men whom they had hunted 
down in the mountains with dogs. First and last they 
took one hundred and seventy-three prisoners whom 
they did not kill. These, together with the two hun- 
dred and seventy-one killed, made a total of four hun- 
dred and forty-four, leaving nine men unaccounted for 
out of the four hundred and fifty-three who landed at 
Morillos on the twelfth of August. These nine men 
probably perished in the mountains; or it is possible 
that some of them were able to make their escape from 
the island and return to their homes. If this was the 
case, the. fact is not now known. Two are known to have 
come near it, however. 

Thrilling O n the twenty-fourth of September, a 

Adventures month after the dispersion and total failure 

of 

Breckenridge °f the expedition, a Spanish schooner arrived 
and Beach. a ^ Mariel, a small fortified port about twenty 
miles from Havana, having on board two Americans, 
Robert H. Breckenridge and Ransom Beach, both of 
Kentucky, who had been picked up from a small boat 
about twenty miles from the coast of Cuba. Their 
wretched condition, as well as the circumstances in which 
they were found, seemed to justify the suspicion that 



U2 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

they were members of the Lopez invading party; and 
upon their arrival in Havana on the twenty-sixth they 
were in imminent danger of being executed. 

Their own account of themselves, given to their friends, 
was that they were all that remained of a company of six 
who since the scattering of the invading party on the 
twenty-first of August had wandered aimlessly about 
among the mountains. They were pursued by Spanish 
troops, who killed three of the party and took a fourth 
prisoner. Breckenridge and Beach escaped by jumping 
down a precipice and afterward hiding themselves in 
the thick underwood, which in Cuba grows so close that 
even those who were pursuing a runaway slave never 
thought of continuing the pursuit when he took to the 
wooded mountains. After great suffering, and living for 
days upon a little corn which they gleaned from the well 
reaped fields, and upon land crabs, they finally decided 
to make for the coast. When they reached it they saw 
a schooner at anchor about a quarter of a mile from the 
shore; and, what was more important to them, they 
perceived that she had a small boat floating astern. In 
spite of their exhausted condition, and of the ravenous 
sharks that abound in those waters, the young men 
decided to swim out to this boat, and to attempt to 
escape in it. 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 



113 



Accordingly they waited until twilight, and then 
swam out. They found no one in the boat, but a man 
was standing on the quarter-deck of the schooner. He 
remained there with most provoking pertinacity until 
they thought they should sink from mere exhaustion, 
for their strength was so far spent that they could hardly 
hold on by the boat. At last the man went forward and 
entered the forecastle, and they succeeded in getting 
on board the schooner and securing two oars. They 
then descended into the small boat, which they cut adrift 
from the schooner, and put to sea. After having been 
at sea about thirty hours, and rowing nearly all the time, 
and just as the mountains, over which they had been 
pursued many weary days and on which they had lain 
many weary nights, were fading from view, they were met 
by a Spanish collier, on board of which they went volun- 
tarily. The captain promised to take them to Havana 
and put them in the way of reaching the United States, 
their story to him being that they were American gentle- 
men who, while out fishing, had been blown to sea from 
the entrance to Key West harbor. They were landed 
at Mariel; and from thence they were soon marched to 
Havana under guard of six soldiers, into the presence 
of the Captain-General, being first bound, and kicked 
and cuffed on the way. 



ii4 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

The Captain-General addressed them as pirates of 
Lopez's gang, and demanded that they should confess 
as much. In spite of threats, the3^ refused to do this; 
and in answer to Concha's declaration that he was sure 
they were of Lopez's expedition, and that he had a mind 
to shoot them on the spot if they did not confess it, they 
replied: "Fire away! We are American gentlemen, and 
will not die with a lie on our lips." Breckenridge said 
that personally he cordially approved of Lopez's expe- 
dition, and believed that Cuba ought to be free, but that 
he had had no part in the expedition, and that if he was 
shot his American friends would avenge him. At that 
time one of his grandfathers was Governor of Virginia, 
and he had two or three cousins in Congress. The Cap- 
tain-General concluded not to shoot them then; but 
after another liberal allowance of kicks and cuffs they 
were thrown into prison. 

Their story, however, got abroad, and Captain Piatt, 
of the Albany, and the American Consul made prompt 
inquiries into so summary a disposal of American citizens 
taken on the high seas. A communication on the sub- 
ject from Mr. Owen to the Captain-General having 
remained some hours unanswered, Captain Piatt sought 
an interview, and protested in strong terms against the 
injustice of condemning without a hearing men taken 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 115 

in such a manner, calling attention particularly to the 
fact that they were taken on the high seas, and out of 
the Spanish jurisdiction. The Captain-General replied 
to this that the men had confessed that they were of the 
Lopez party. Captain Piatt pleaded that this should 
not be to their prejudice, as a man should be proved 
guilty by other evidence than a confession extorted from 
him, most likely by threats. Unfortunately for this plea, 
however, a confession in Cuba, by whatever means 
obtained, was ample grounds for a conviction, the whole 
criminal practice there being at that time based upon 
the maxim that an accused party is to be considered 
guilty until he proves his innocence. The result of the 
interview was that Breckenridge and Beach were ordered 
to be kept in Havana for trial, instead of going to Spain 
for ten years the next morning in chains, as would have 
otherwise occurred. They always denied that they had 
made a confession. Commodore Parker, who had been 
ordered on a short cruise to Matanzas in the Saranac, 
returned in a day or two, and interceded for the pardon 
of the young men. The result was that Breckenridge 
was pardoned, but Beach was sent to Spain under sen- 
tence of ten years' hard labor in the quicksilver mines. 



n6 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

The Fate During September all the prisoners, except 

of the the few who were pardoned, were embarked 

for Spain, under long sentences of hard labor 
in the quicksilver mines. 1 Mr. John S. Thrasher, an 
American citizen living in Havana, where he published 
El Faro, one of the principal newspapers of the city, inter- 
ested himself to solicit subscriptions to a fund for the 
purpose of supplying the prisoners with comforts during 
the long voyage. He succeeded in raising eighteen hun- 
dred dollars for this purpose, which was all given secretly, 
as it was almost as much as a Cuban's life was worth to 
have given to such a fund openly. For his pains in behalf 
of humanity, Mr. Thrasher's paper was suppressed and 
he was sentenced to eight years at hard labor in the mines 
in Spain, or rather at Spain's penal colony at Ceuta, in 
Africa, opposite Gibraltar. The prisoners embarked in 
good spirits, for it was somehow whispered among them 
that they would be pardoned soon after reaching Ceuta. 
This proved to be true, Queen Isabella extending to them 
that clemency soon after they landed. This was no 
doubt due to the exertions of President Fillmore, who 
interceded in their behalf on the, ground that they had 
been inveigled into the expedition upon representations 
that an actual revolution was on foot in Cuba, and that 

1 See Appendix for a list of those sent to the quicksilver mines. 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 117 

the patriots were in possession of forty towns. None 
of the Hungarian prisoners, however, were released, but 
some of them succeeded in making their escape, among 
whom was Major Louis Schlesinger. 

Doctor Santa Rosa, who was among the unfortunates 
sent to the quicksilver mines, was one of the thirteen 
prominent men who raised the banner of revolt in Cuba 
m 1868 — a revolt which lasted for eight years and 
cost Spain more than seven hundred million dollars. 
He was taken prisoner in that war, but escaped to 
renew the struggle; and was again taken on board the 
ill-fated Virginius on October 23, 1873. He was one 
of the fifty-three prisoners from that ship who were 
shot a few days later before the walls of the well-named 
Slaughter House, in Santiago. 

The Bahia Honda Expedition made a pro- 

"It Might 

Have Been." found impression in Cuba — a far greater 
impression than is generally supposed in the 
United States. The fears of the Spanish Government 
exaggerated its strength, and the whole military power 
of the island was exerted against it. Havana was so 
depleted of troops in order to meet Lopez that at one 
time it was practically unprotected, and might easily 
have been taken by even such another small force as 



n8 Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 

Lopez then had with him. As it was, his little army of 
a few hundred men and lads fought a body eight times 
their number, keeping them at bay, and causing great 
slaughter. The railroad trains carried the wounded into 
Havana, car after car; rumors of defeat filled the city; 
artillery was sent out in great force; and the actual loss 
of the Spaniards in killed and wounded was said to be 
more than one thousand men. Had the Creoles risen, 
as they were expected to do, that little handful of brave 
men might really have been the means of establish- 
ing Cuban independence, forty-seven years before that 
fact was really accomplished by the army and navy 
of the United States. 

Colonel Theodore O'Hara and Colonel John 

Lopez Was 

Deceived. T. Pickett called to see Mrs. Murray, Colonel 
William L. Crittenden's mother, after his 
death, and told her in the conversation they had about 
Cuban matters, on that occasion, that Lopez was deceived 
as to the anticipated uprising of the Cubans by a Spanish 
officer whom he supposed to be his friend, and a friend 
of Cuban liberty, and in whom he placed implicit con- 
fidence. He afterward recognized this officer fighting 
against him in one of the battles. 

Colonel Crittenden's mother had, ultimately, no doubt 
that Lopez, himself was deceived as to the state of affairs 



Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba 119 

in Cuba; and that, being deceived himself, he innocently 
and honestly deceived others. And this will be the 
verdict of history. 

The failure of the Bahia Honda Expe- 
Cuba Libre ! dition apparently did not dampen the ardor 
of the friends of Cuba in America; for, under 
the leadership of General Quitman, of Mississippi, and 
others, numerous other expeditions were organized; none 
of which, however, were able to leave our shores, on 
account of the vigilance exercised by the United States 
Government to prevent them. The agitation in this 
direction did not effectually die out until shortly before 
the beginning of our own Civil War. After that the insur- 
rections of the native Cubans themselves were of more 
or less magnitude, and were at times attended with a 
considerable degree of success, until the freedom of the 
unhappy island was finally achieved by the co-operation 
of the United States Government itself. 

Reading history broadly, one must perceive that the 
military demonstrations of Lopez and his American fol- 
lowers against the Spanish power in Cuba was simply a 
disastrous incident in the long struggle between the 
English and the Spanish races, which began about the year 
1550 and seems to have been brought to a finality in 
1898, when the people of the United States freed Cuba, 
and drove Spain from her last foothold in the New World. 



APPENDIX 



THE KENTUCKY REGIMENT 

It is not known what became of the rolls and records 
of the Kentucky Regiment in the Cardenas Expedition, 
or whether they were preserved at all. The following 
incomplete roster of its officers, and statement of its 
losses, was picked out from various sources: 

Colonel Theodore O'Hara, Frankfort. 

Lieutenant-Colonel John T. Pickett, Washington, District of 
Columbia. 

Major Thomas T. Hawkins, Newport. 
2 Major William Hardy, Covington. 
iAdjutant H. T. Titus, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 
1 Quartermaster Thomas P. Hoy, Galveston, Texas. 

Surgeon, Doctor Samuel Scott, Florence. 

Chaplain, Reverend John McF. McCann (Episcopal), Paris. 

Captain John Allen, Shelbyville. 

Captain John A. Logan, Shelbyville. 

Captain H. H. Robinson, Company D. 

Captain F. C. Wilson, Company H. 

Captain Lewis. 

Captain Knight. 

Lieutenant Richardson Hardy, Company D, editor of the Cin- 
cinnati Nonpareil. 

Lieutenant John Carl Johnston, Louisville. 

Lieutenant Albert W. Johnson. 

Lieutenant Joe Smith, Louisville. 

Lieutenant Jack Reading, Shelbyville. 

Lieutenant J. J. Garnett, Bowling Green. 

1 Native of Kentucky, but at that time residing elsewhere. 
2 There was an unsettled dispute as to seniority between the two Majors; but 
Hawkins' claims seem to have been recognized. 



Appendix 



Lieutenant J. McDerman, Company F. 

Lieutenant W. H. Barton. 

Lieutenant C. H. Rawlings. 

Lieutenant Sayre. 

Lieutenant Greenlee. 

Lieutenant Horton. 

Lieutenant Knott. 

Lieutenant Dear. 

Lieutenant Harnley. 

Sergeant-Major McDonald. 

Color Sergeant William Redding, who carried the "Free Flag 
of Cuba" in the battle at Cardenas, and brought back to America 
the tatters left by the enemy's bullets. 

Sergeant Robert Wheeling, Company D. 

Sergeant Henry Cruse, Company D. 

Corporal Thomas Work. 

The following were the casualities of the Kentucky 
Regiment in the battle of Cardenas: 

Killed. 
Captain John A. Logan, Shelbyville. 
Lieutenant James J. Garnett, Bowling Green. 
Chaplain John McFarland McCann, Paris. 
Sergeant Henry Cruse, Company D. 
Ten privates — fourteen. 

Wounded. 
Colonel Theodore O'Hara. 
Major Thomas T. Hawkins. 
Lieutenant — — Sayre. 

Lieutenant Harnley. 

Sergeant Robert Wheeling. 
Twenty-one privates — twenty-six. 

' Thus the loss of the regiment in the engagement 
amounted to forty, all told; or more than twenty- two 
per cent of those engaged. 



Appendix 123 



THE BIVOUAC OF THE DEAD. 

BY THEODORE O'HARA. 

The muffled drum's sad roll has beat 

The soldier's last tattoo; 
No more on life's parade shall meet 

That brave and fallen few. 
On Fame's eternal camping-ground 

Their silent tents are spread, 
But Glory guards, with solemn round, 

The bivouac of the dead. 

No rumor of the foe's advance 

Now swells upon the wind; 
No troubled thought at midnight haunts 

Of loved ones left behind; 
No vision of the morrow's strife 
The warrior's dream alarms; 
No braying horn nor screaming fife 

At dawn shall call to arms. 

Their shivered swords are red with rust, 

Their plumed heads are bowed; 
Their haughty banner, trailed in dust, 

Is now their martial shroud. 
And plenteous funeral tears have washed 

The red stains from each brow, 
And the proud forms, in battle gashed, 

Are free from anguish now. 

The neighing troop, the flashing blade, 

The bugle's stirring blast, 
The charge, the dreadful cannonade, 

The din and shout are past; 
Nor war's wild note, nor glory's peal, 

Shall thrill with fierce delight 
Those breasts that never more may feel 

The rapture of the fight. 



i24 Appendix 



Like the fierce northern hurricane 

That sweeps his great plateau, 
Flushed with the triumph yet to gain, 

Came down the serried foe. 
Who heard the thunder of the fray 

Break o'er the field beneath, 
Knew well the watchword of that day 

Was "Victory or death." 

Long has the doubtful conflict raged 

O'er all that stricken plain, 
For never fiercer fight had waged 

The vengeful blood of Spain; 
And still the storm of battle blew, 

Still swelled the gory tide; 
Not long our stout old chieftain knew, 

Such odds his strength could bide. 

'Twas in that hour his stern command 

Called to a martyr's grave 
The flower of his beloved land, 

The nation's flag to save. 
By rivers of their father's gore 

His first-born laurels grew, 
And well he deemed the sons would pour 

Their lives for glory too. 

Full many a norther's breath has swept 

O'er Angostura's plain — 
And long the pitying sky has wept 

Above the moldering slain. 
The raven's scream, or eagle's flight, 

Or shepherd's pensive lay, 
Alone awakes each sullen height 

That frowned o'er that dread fray. 



Appendix 125 



Sons of the Dark and Bloody Ground, 

Ye must not slumber there, 
Where stranger steps and tongues resound 

Along the heedless air. 
Your own proud State's heroic soil 

Shall be your fitter grave; 
She claims from War his richest spoil — 

The ashes of her brave. 

Thus 'neath their parent turf they rest, 

Far from the gory field, 
Borne to a Spartan mother's breast 

On many a bloody shield; 
The sunshine of their native sky 

Smiles sadly on them here, 
And kindred eyes and hearts watch by 

The heroes' sepulcher. 

Rest on, embalmed and sainted dead, 

Dear as the blood ye gave, 
No impious footstep here shall tread 

The herbage of your grave; 
Nor shall your glory be forgot 

While Fame her record keeps, 
Or Honor points the hallowed spot 

Where Valor proudly sleeps. 

Yon marble minstrel's voiceful stone 

In deathless song shall tell 
When many a vanquished age hath flown, 

The story how ye fell; 
Nor wreck, nor change, nor winter's blight, 

Nor Time's remorseless doom, 
Shall dim one ray of glory's light 

That gilds your deathless tomb. 



i26 Appendix 



SENT TO THE QUICKSILVER MINES IN SPAIN. 

The following is a list of the " Filibusteros " of the 
Bahia Honda Expedition who were taken prisoners by 
the Spaniards, and sent to Spain under sentence of hard 
labor in the quicksilver mines: 

NAME. COUNTRY. OCCUPATION. AGE. 

James Smith Leyden, Massachusetts. .Farmer 29 

Cornelius Duffy Boston, Massachusetts . Clerk 17 

George W. Richardson .... Massachusetts Clerk 35 

George Edgerton Massachusetts Clerk 24 

Thomas H. Lee New London, Conn . . . Clerk 19 

Harney Williams Connecticut Fanner 48 

Dandridge Seay South Carolina Engineer 21 

James Cajerman South Carolina Carpenter 19 

Edward Q. Bell South Carolina Clerk 20 

David Winburn South Carolina Bricklayer .... 37 

Benjamin Hanna Pennsylvania Farmer 22 

George Holdship Pennsylvania Boatman 20 

Henry B. Hart Pennsylvania Engineer 22 

J. P. Simpson Pennsylvania Butcher 23 

George Wilson Pennsylvania Japanner 21 

Charles Geblin Pennsylvania Boatman 23 

Edgar Cressy Pennsylvania Painter 27 

John McKiniop Pennsylvania Boatman 26 

H. Stanmire Pennsylvania 26 

John Clure Pennsylvania Boatman 21 

Benjamin Hand Pennsylvania Farmer 22 

Thomas Little Philadelphia, Pa Carpenter 30 

James M. Wilson Indiana Clerk 22 

John D. Ballar Indiana Clerk 25 

Fenton D. Hough Indiana Engineer 19 

M. L. Hefrow New York Steward 21 

William Wilson New York Clerk 22 



Appendix 127 

John Denton New York Clerk 28 

Thomas Denton New York Carpenter 32 

George W. Foster New York Laborer 17 

Elijah J. Otis New York Boatman 22 

Cornelius Sebring New York Laborer 25 

James Albing New York Boatman 21 

Joseph Stevens New York Carpenter 26 

Daniel Gano New York Laborer 26 

Franklin Boyd New York Engineer 21 

Benjamin Fagan Ohio Boatman 19 

George E. Metcalfe Ohio Druggist 22 

Henry West . Ohio Saddler 26 

Isaac Fanborne Ohio Tailor 38 

Benjamin Gilmore Ohio Bricklayer .... 19 

William L. Wilkinson Mobile, Alabama Engineer 25 

Thomas R. Monroe Alabama Machinist 20 

Cornelius Cook Alabama Printer 20 

John R. Pruitt Alabama Printer 24 

H. J. Thomasson Alabama Clerk 18 

Daniel E. DeWolf Alabama Clerk 23 

Armand R. Woer Alabama Clerk 22 

Peter McMullen Maine Cook 20 

Ansell R. Ludwing Maine Seaman 28 

S. H. Purnell Mississippi Printer ....... 20 

Henry Metcalfe Mississippi Druggist 19 

C. A. McMurray Maryland Printer 21 

John Boswell Maryland Mason 25 

Charles H. Downer Maryland Clerk 23 

W. H. McKensey Kentucky Bricklayer .... 18 

Malbon K. Scott Kentucky Ceriner (sic) ... 20 

William H. Vaughan Kentucky Clerk 40 

William Wilson Kentucky Boatman 18 

David Q. Rousseau Kentucky Bricklayer .... 24 

Robert H. Grider Kentucky Merchant 34 

Francis C. Mahan Kentucky Farmer 23 

Edmund H. McDonald .... Kentucky Clerk 20 

Preston Essex Kentucky Boatman 25 

John Johnson Owensboro, Kentucky . . Merchant 35 



128 Appendix 

John A. Sowers Berryville, Kentucky . . . Merchant 21 

Ransom Beach Kentucky Farmer 22 

William Herb Georgia Clerk 16 

Wilson L. Reeves Georgia 19 

William Hero Georgia Clerk 16 

William H. Craft Virginia Jenrier (sic) ... 23 

John G Bush Virginia Printer 24 

William Cameron Virginia Carpenter 45 

John Cooper Virginia Clerk 19 

Thomas Hudnall Virginia Farmer 35 

Charles Horwell Virginia Printer 23 

Peter Lacoste New Orleans, Louisiana . Driver 21 

J. Cassanovas New Orleans, Louisiana . Clerk 32 

J. H. Hearsey New Orleans, Louisiana . Clerk 25 

Charles Harrison New Orleans, Louisiana . Painter 21 

Victor Dupar New Orleans, Louisiana . Engineer 19 

Joseph B. Gunst New Orleans, Louisiana . Clerk 16 

Thomas D. Brown New Orleans, Louisiana . Driver 25 

George Parr New Orleans, Louisiana . Clerk 25 

William Miller New Orleans, Louisiana 32 

Thomas Hilton Washington, D. C Painter 26 

Robert Ellis Washington, D. C Clerk 22 

John Carter Illinois Carpenter 26 

Thomas L. McMill North Carolina Clerk 23 

Antonio Romero Navarra, Cuba Laborer 26 

Francisco Iglesias Zamora, Cuba Laborer 24 

Antonio Hernandez Havana, Cuba Painter 22 

Julio Chassana Havana, Cuba Silversmith . . . .27 

Antonio Alfonso Havana, Cuba Physician 31 

Miguel Guerro Havana, Cuba Shoemaker .... 26 

Martino Melesimo Havana, Cuba Tobacconist ... 29 

Manuel Martinez Havana, Cuba Tobacconist . . .35 

Manuel Fleuri Havana, Cuba Printer 32 

Pedro Nolasco Havana, Cuba Cook 18 

Francisco Alejandro Laine . Alquizar, Cuba Overseer 27 

Manuel Diaz Bayamo, Cuba Merchant 34 

Eduardo Sarmeron Verja, Cuba Shoemaker .... 27 

Ramon Annan Matanzas, Cuba Penman 31 



Appendix 129 

Pedro Manuel Lopez Venezuela Merchant 24 

Robert Schuetz Germany Josrier (sic) ... 24 

Conrad Paratolt Germany Clerk 17 

Louis Bawder Germany Barkeeper 37 

Charles Null Germany Baker 24 

Conrad Taylor Germany Cook 24 

Jacob Foutz Germany Butcher 20 

Henry Schmidt Germany Butcher 21 

George Schmidt Germany Laborer 21 

Zyriack Scheiprt ■. . Germany Watchmaker . . 34 

Edward Weiss Germany Butcher 22 

Louis Hagan Germany Confectioner ... 22 

Harlo Schluht Germany Soldier 29 

Bernard Allen Dublin, Ireland Carpenter 18 

Patrick Coleman Ireland Laborer 29 

John Murphy Ireland Waiter 23 

Supe L. Cully Ireland Carpenter 20 

Thomas Dailey Ireland Clerk 19 

Patrick Abac Gath Ireland Laborer 28 

Thomas McClelland Ireland Shoemaker .... 22 

Bernard McLeabe Ireland Laborer 32 

Martin Muellen Ireland Cook 19 

Timothy K. Henry Ireland Clerk 32 

Henry Sayle England Moulder 22 

James Brady England (Isle of Wight) . Laborer 36 

William Coussins England Clerk 20 

James G. Iwen England Merchant 21 

Conrad Cichler Hungary Printer 23 

George Bontila Hungary Merchant 26 

Joseph Ciceri Hungary Soldier 19 

John Peteri Hungary Soldier 23 

Emerich Badneih Hungary Soldier 27 

Bela Kerekes Hungary Soldier 22 

Janos Virag Hungary Soldier 24 

Janos Niskos Hungary Soldier 23 

Richard Nelson Copenhagen, Denmark 39 

Pierre C. de Bournazal . . France Tailor 40 

W. S. Constantine Canada Printer 22 

Michael Bero Poland Soldier 26 



130 Appendix 

The following members of the expedition who were 
taken prisoners received free pardons from the Captain- 
General of Cuba, and returned at once to the United 
States, viz: 

Colonel W. Scott Haynes, New Orleans. 
Captain J. A. Kelly, New Orleans. 
Lieutenant P. S. Van Vechten, New York. 
Lieutenant H. G. Summers, New Orleans. 
Lieutenant Robert H. Breckenridge, Kentucky. 
Lieutenant James Chapman, Charleston, S. C. 

The prisoners sentenced to the mines were deported at 
different times, one hundred and sixteen going in the 
first lot that sailed, and smaller numbers in subsequent 
lots. The lists above given comprise only one hundred 
and forty-eight names out of the one hundred and seventy- 
three prisoners who were taken; leaving twenty-five still 
to be accounted for. Some of these undoubtedly died 
in hospitals in Cuba, and others were sent to Spain at 
later dates, and their names were not published, perhaps. 
At the time the first lot of prisoners were sent to Spain 
— September 8, 1851 — it was reported that forty-seven 
others were in hospitals in Cuba. The missing names 
may be included among the following, reported as cap- 
tured, about whom nothing was subsequently published: 



Appendix 13 1 



Major Louis Schlesinger, Hungary. 

Lieutenant R. M. Crigler, Kentucky. 

Francis B. Holmes, Kentucky. 

J. D. Hughes, Kentucky. 

J. B. Braum, New Orleans. 

James G. Devew, New Orleans. 

M. Lieger, New Orleans. 

John Kline, New Orleans. 

George Foster, New Orleans. 

C. Knowll, New Orleans. 

James Fiddes, New Orleans. 

W. L. Hessen, New York. 

Preston Estes, St. Louis, Missouri. 

Francisco Cubia y Garcia, Havana, Cuba. 

Jose Dovren, Havana, Cuba. 

Ciriaco Senepli, Havana, Cuba. 

M. Arago, Havana, Cuba. 

L. Sujilolet, Havana, Cuba. 

Andres Gonzales, Nueva Grenada, Cuba. 

J. Sucit, Germany. 

William Losner, Germany. 

R. Schulte, Germany. 



132 Appendix 

LAST LETTERS OF SOME OF CRITTENDEN'S MEN. 

The following letters from some of Crittenden's com- 
panions in martyrdom were published in the New Orleans 
papers shortly after the tragedy: 

[From Captain Victor Ker.] 
My dear Felicia: 

Adieu, my dear wife. This is the last letter that you will receive 

from your Victor. In one hour I shall be no more. Embrace all 

of my friends for me. Never marry again ; it is my desire. My adieu 

to my sisters and brothers. Again, a last adieu. I die like a soldier. 

Your husband, Victor Ker. 

August 1 6, 6 o'clock, 1851. 

My dear Brother Robert: 

Adieu! I am to be shot in an hour — there is no remedy for it. 
This will be handed to you by my friend, Mr. Costa, who has been 
kind enough to take charge of it. Adieu, Robert. I die as a man 
and an American should die. Kiss your dear wife, my good mother, 
sisters and brothers; and believe me, ever your brother. 

Victor Ker. 

August 16, 6 \ o'clock, 1 85 1. 

My dear friends: 

I leave you forever, and I go to the other world. I am prisoner 
in Havana, and in an hour I shall have ceased to exist. My dearest 
friends, think often of me. I die worthy of a Creole, worthy of a 
Louisianian and of a Ker. My dearest friends, adieu for the last 
time. Your devoted friend, 

August 16, 6i o'clock, 1 85 1. Victor Ker. 

[From Lieutenant Thomas C. James.] 

Spanish Frigate Esperanza, 
Harbor of Havana, August 16, 185 1. 
My Dear Brothers and Sisters: 

This is the last letter you will ever receive from your brother 
Thomas. In one hour more I will be launched into eternity, being 
now a prisoner, with fifty others, aboard of this ship, and under sen- 



Appendix 133 

tence of death. All to be shot ! This is a hard fate, but I trust in the 
mercy of God and will meet my fate manfully. 

Think of me hereafter, not with regret, but as one whom you 
loved in life, and who loved you. Adieu forever, my brothers and 
sisters and friends. Thomas C. James. 

Robert, our poor friends, G. A. Cook and John O. Bryce, are with 
me, and send their last regards to you; also Clement Stanford, for- 
merly of Natchez. 

[From Lieutenant James Brandt.] 

Havana, August 16, 1851. 
My dear Mother: 

I have but a few moments to live. Fifty of us are condemned 
to be shot within a half hour. I do not value life, but deeply regret 
the grief it will cause you to hear of my death. Farewell, then, my 
dear mother, sisters, and all; we may meet again in another world. 
Think of me often ; forget the causes I have given you for grief ; remem- 
ber only my virtues. Farewell, again, dearest mother, and believe 
me to be Your affectionate son, 

J. Brandt. 

[From Adjutant R. C. Stanford.] 

Havana, August 16, 1851. 
My dear Huling: 

We arrived on the island of Cuba after the most horrible passage 
you can conceive of, cooped on board with four hundred or five hun- 
dred men. 

We arrived on Sunday last, I believe — dates I have almost for- 
gotten. The next morning Lopez, with General Pragay and all the 
commanding officers, left us (I mean Crittenden and his battalion). 
We heard nothing more of him for two days, when Crittenden 
despatched a note. He then requested we should join him at a little 
town some six or eight miles off, leaving us in the meantime to take 
care of all the baggage, &c. 

We started for him on Wednesday morning at 2 o'clock, and had 
proceeded only three miles when we were attacked by five hundred 
Spanish soldiers. In the first charge I received a very severe wound 
in the knee. We repulsed them, however. They made another 



134 Appendix 

charge and completely routed us. We spent two days and nights, 
the most miserable you can imagine, in the chapparal, without any- 
thing to eat or drink. 

We made the best of our way to the seashore and found some 
boats, with which we put to sea. Spent a night upon the ocean, and 
next day about 12 o'clock were taken prisoners by the Habanero, 
were brought to Havana last night, and condemned to die this morn- 
ing. We shall be shot in an hour. 

Good-bye, and God bless you ! I send the Masonic medal enclosed 

in this, belonging to my father. Convey it to my sister, Mrs. P n, 

and tell her of my fate. Once more, God bless you ! 

Stanford. 

[From Private Honore Tacite Vienne.] 

On Board the Man-of-War Esperanza, 
August 16, 1 85 1. 
My dear affectionate Sisters and Brothers: 

Before I die I am permitted to address my last words in this world. 

Deceived by false visions, I embarked in the expedition to Cuba. 
We arrived, about four hundred in number, last week, and in about 
an hour from now we — I mean fifty-one of us — will be lost. I was 
taken prisoner after an engagement, and, with others, am to be shot 
in an hour. 

I die, my dear brothers and sisters, a repentant sinner, having 
been blessed with the last rites of our holy religion. Forgive me of 
all my follies of my past life; and you, my dear affectionate sisters, 
pray for my poor soul. 

A , go to my dear mother and console her. Oh, my dear 

child, kiss her a thousand times for me. Love her for my sake. Kiss 
my brothers and all my dear children. To Father Blackney my last 
profound respect; to Father Lacroix and Father D'Hau, a mass for 
my soul. 

My dear mother-in-law, farewell! Poor Tacite is shot and dead 
by this time. I give and bequeath my dear child to you, and you 

alone. Good-bye, H ; good-bye G and T . I did my 

duty. Good-bye all. Your dear son and brother, 

Honore Tacite Vienne. 

Mr. Antonio Costa has promised to do all he can to obtain my 
body. If so, please have me buried with my wife. 



Appendix 135 

[From Private Gilman A. Cook.] 

Havana, on board of Man-of-War, 
8 o'clock a.m., August 16, 1851. 
My dear friends: 

About fifty of us, Colonel Crittenden's command, were taken 
prisoners yesterday; have not received our sentence yet, but no doubt 
we will be shot before sunset. Lopez, the scoundrel, has deceived 
us; there is no doubt but all those reports about Cubans rising were 
all trumped up in New Orleans. Lopez took nearly all of his com- 
mand and deserted us. We were attacked by some five hundred 
or seven hundred of the Queen's troops on the second day after we 
landed. Our own gallant Colonel Crittenden did all that any man 
could do, but we saw we had been deceived, and retreated to the sea- 
shore with the intention of getting off to our country, if possible. 
Got three boats, and got off with the intention of coasting until we 
fell in with an American vessel, and were taken prisoners by the steam- 
boat Habanero. 

Explain to my family that I have done nothing but what was 
instigated by the highest motives; that I die with a clean conscience, 
and like a jnan, with a stout heart. I send my watch to you; it is 
for little Benny, my nephew. Good-bye; God bless you all. 

Truly yours, Gilman A. Cook. 

ROUSSEAU'S SERIO-COMIC LETTER. 

Even the grimmest tragedy may be accompanied sometimes by 
a lighter side-play. It has long been supposed that every one of 
the men taken with Colonel Crittenden was executed. But James 
Jeffrey Roche, in his interesting book, The By-Ways of War, states 
on the authority of Lawrence Oliphant that one escaped. The name 
of this fortunate one is not printed in the book, but in the copy in the 
War Department library, in Washington, some one has indicated 
in a penciled marginal note that he was "David O. Rousseau, of Ken- 
tucky, later an officer of the Fifth United States Infantry." 

Oliphant joined an expedition which set out from New Orleans 
in December, 1856, to join Walker in Nicaragua, but did not get there 
until Walker had surrendered. He states that among his comrades 



136 Appendix 

in that expedition was an adventurous hero who had taken part in 
the last expedition of Lopez to Cuba (1851), and had spent eighteen 
months in a Spanish dungeon in consequence. When captured and 
taken to Havana, along with Colonel Crittenden, the prisoners were 
informed that they were to be shot, but they were permitted to write 
farewell letters to their friends. All of them began to write their 
letters except this particular one. It is stated that he "racked in 
vain the chambers of his memory for a solitary individual to whom 
he could impart the melancholy tidings of his execution without feel- 
ing that his communication would be what in polite society would 
be called an unwarrantable intrusion of his personal affairs upon a 
comparative stranger." But, ashamed to be the only one idle when 
fifty men were scribbling all around him, he determined to choose a 
friend to write to ; and then it flashed upon him that as all the letters 
would be read by the Spaniards, he had better choose a good friend 
while he was choosing. He concluded that, in his present circum- 
stances, none could be more appropriate than Daniel Webster, then 
Secretary of State at Washington. Not only should he make a friend 
of Mr. Webster, but an intimate friend, and then the Captain-General 
of Cuba might shoot him if he chose, and take the risks. So he wrote 
about as follows: 

"Dan, my dear old boy, little did you think when we parted 
at the close of that last agreeable visit of a week which I lately paid 
you, that within a month I would be 'cabined, cribbed, and con- 
fined' in the durance vile from which I write this. I wish you would 
send the Spanish Minister a case of that very old Madeira of yours, 
which he professes to prefer to the wines of his own country, and 
tell him of the silly scrape I have got myself into; if, indeed, it be 
not too late, for they talk of sending me to 'the bourne' shortly. How- 
ever, one can never believe a word these Spanish rascals say, and 
so I write this in the hope that they are lying, as usual — and I am, 
my dear old schoolmate, your affectionate friend, etc." 

It is stated that as the result of this letter its writer was spared 
when the others were shot; and when at last the hoax was discovered 
the crisis in Cuba was past; so he was condemned to two years in 
chains in the quicksilver mines in Ceuta, which was afterward com- 
muted to eighteen months. The story may be true, but the news- 



Appendix 137 

paper and all the other contemporary accounts say that the entire 
party were executed — there is no mention anywhere of one being 
spared. It is a fact, however, that David Q. Rousseau, of Kentucky, 
was with the expedition of 1851, and that he was sentenced to the 
mines. He served through the Civil War as a Lieutenant in the Fifth 
Kentucky Infantry (Union), and afterward in the Fifth Infantry, 
United States Army. 



138 Appendix 



"A KENTUCKIAN KNEELS TO NONE BUT GOD."* 

Ah! tyrant, forge thy chains at will — 

Nay! gall this flesh of mine; 
My thought is free, unfetter'd still, 

And will not yield to thine. 
Take, take the life that heaven gave, 

And let my heart's blood stain thy sod; 
But know ye not Kentucky's brave 

Will kneel to none but God? 

You've quenched fair Freedom's sunny light, 

Her music tones have stilled; 
And with a dark and withering blight 

The trusting heart have filled! 
Then do you think that I will kneel 

Where such as ye have trod? 
Nay! point your cold and threat'ning steel, — 

I'll kneel to none but God! 

As summer breezes lightly rest 

Upon a quiet river, 
And gently on its sleeping breast 

The moonbeams softly quiver — 
Sweet thoughts of home lit up my brow 

When goaded with the rod; 
Yet, these can not unman me now — 

I'll kneel to none but God! 

Unpitying hearts, as hard as stone, 
Are coldly standing by; 

And dreams of bliss forever flown 
Have dimm'd with tears mine eye — 

Yet mine's a heart unyielding still- 
Heap on my breast the clod; 

My soaring spirit scorns thy will — 
I'll kneel to none but God! 

'Written in 1851 by Mrs Mary E. Wilson, of Maysville, Kentucky, and dedicated to 
Colonel William L. Crittenden. 



Appendix 139 



THE DEATH OF CRITTENDEN. 1 



BY LAURA LORIMER. 



The flush of a tropical morn 

Still lingered on Cuba's fair sky, 
When a band for chivalry born 

Were led forth like caitiffs to die. 
No quiver on lips that had learned 

To press back each feeling that rose, 
Told of thoughts in their bosoms inurned 

As their young lives drew near their sad close. 

They bade the proud chief of that band 

Kneel low when the death volley came, 
And, bowed on that sun-guarded strand, 

Pour forth his high spirit of flame; 
Deep and haughty arose his firm tone, 

Unchecked by surroundings of woe, 
"I kneel to high heaven alone, 

And ne'er turn my back on the foe!" 

Brave chief, though with shadowy fold 

The death mist hath veiled thy proud eye, 
And that spirit, so daring of old, 

Hath flown to the star-jeweled sky, 
Still in memory's vaults dwell thy tone, 

Ere the fountain is checked in its flow, 
"I kneel to high heaven alone, 

And ne'er turn my back on the foe!" 



1 This song was set to music, and for some time after Colonel Crittenden's 
death was very popular. 



140 Appendix 



FIFTY CAYERON.* 

Ten o'clock in the morning 
It was — oh! unequaled joy — 
When the brave General 
Of Marine anchored in Havana; 

The news spread, 
And the people in mass hastened, 
Inundated with pleasure, 
To the mole to see 
The fifty who were captured, 

By him! 

All the people witnessed 
The fate of the pirates, 
And in seeing them killed 
Exclaimed "viva Isabel!" 

Enthusiasm reigned, 
"Death to the pirates!" was shouted. 
On seeing them shot 
The ardor increased, 
And on every forehead contentment 

Shone like the rays of the sun. 

Now there can be no pity or quarter 
For this barbarous people 
Who humble themselves 
Before our Queen Isabel. 

Never the regal canopy 
Can the scoundrels desecrate, 
And if they wish to tread 
A third time on our Antilla 
There are soldiers of Castile 

Who know how to defeat them! 

I " Fifty Fell." This is a literal translation of three stanzas of a "poem" 
that was printed on broadsides and hawked about the streets of Havana on the 
day that Colonel Crittenden and his comrades were slain. The alleged poem con- 
tained fifteen stanzas. 



INDEX 



Adams, John, 

Mentioned, n. 
Agnero, Don Joaquin de, 

President of Cuba, 67. 
" A Kentuckian Kneels to None but 
God," 

Poem, by Mrs. Mary E. Wilson, 13S. 
Albany, The, 

Mentioned, 91, 92, 114. 
Albing, James, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Alfonso, Antonio, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Allen, Bernard, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Allen, James Lane, 

Mentioned, 5. 
Allen, Colonel John, 

Mentioned, 73. 
Allen, Captain John 

Mentioned, 121. 
Almendares, The, 

Mentioned, 8o, 98, 105, 107. 
Arago, M. 

Mentioned, 131. 
Arman, Raymond, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Arnold, J. W , 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Badneih, Emerich, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 29. 
Bahia Honda Expedition, 

Preparations for. 66. 

Alleged revolt in Cuba, 67. 

Organizing the expedition, 68. 

The Kentucky Regiment, 69. 

The expeditionary force, 7 1 

Colonel W. L. Crittenden, 73. 

The embarkation, 74. 



Bahia Honda Expedition — 
Continued : 

A Council of War, 75. 

Lopez deceived, 76, 118, 119. 

Nearing Cuba, 77. 

Welcomed with bloody hands, 78. 

The disembarkation, 79. 

Lopez marches into the interior, 80. 

The fight at San Miguel, 81-83. 

Fate of Crittenden and his men, 84. 

The " Strong in Heart," 87. 

List of those shot in Havana, 87-88. 

Colonel Crittenden's last letters, 89, 90. 

The massacre, 91. 

Sickening brutality, 94. 

Indignation in the United States, 95. 

" The common bone-heap," 95. 

Lopez's campaign, 97. 

The battle of Las Pozas, 98. 

The battle of Frias, 99. 

Arms and ammunition ruined, 101. 

The first defeat, 102. 

Disruption of the force, 104. 

Lopez taken, 106. 

Execution of Lopez, 107. 

Attitude of the Creoles, 109. 

Result of the expedition, no. 

Adventures of Breckenridge and Beach, 
in. 

The fate of the prisoners, 116. 

" It might have been," 117. 

Cuba Libre, 119. 

List of prisoners sent to Spain, 126. 

List of prisoners pardoned, 130. 

Last letters of Crittenden's men, 132, 
135- 

Rousseau's serio-comic letter, 135. 
Ball, M. H., 

Shot in Havana, 88. 



142 



Index 



Ballar, James D., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 26. 
Barrourk (or Baronk), P., 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Barton, W. H., 

Mentioned, 122. 
Battles of — 

Cardenas, 55. 

Frias, 99. 

Las Pozas, 98. 

San Miguel, 80, 81. 
Bawder, Louis, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Beach, Ransom, 

Adventures of, m. 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 115, 128. 
Bell, Colonel, 

Mentioned, 101. 
Bell, Ed Q., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126. 
Bero, Michael, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 29. 
" Bivouac of the Dead," 

Full text of this poem, 123. 
Black Eagle Conspiracy, 

Mentioned, 27. 
Blackney, Father, 

Mentioned, 134. 
Blumenthal, Colonel, 

Mentioned, 72, 76. 
Bolivar, Simon, 

Mentioned, 28, 43. 
Bonds, Cuban, 

Mentioned, 32, 33. 
Bontila, George, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Boswell, John, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Boyd, Franklin, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Brady, James, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Brandt, Lieutenant James, 

Shot in Havana, 87. 

Last letter, 133. 



Braum, J. B., 

Mentioned, 131. 
Breckenridge, Robert H., 

Adventures of, in. 

Pardoned, 115, 130. 

Mentioned, 5, 16. 
Breckinridge, John C, 

Mentioned, 34, 36, 38, 41, 45. 
Brigham, Captain, 

Mortally wounded, 98. 

Mentioned, 72. 
Brown, Thomas D., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Bryce, Lieutenant John 0., 

Shot in Havana, 87. 

Mentioned, 133. 
Buccaneer, 

Origin of the word, 12. 
Bunch, Colonel W. T., 

Mentioned, 48. 
Burr, Aaron, 

Mentioned, 10, n. 
Bush, John G., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Bustillo, General, 

Mentioned, 85, 86. 
BylET, James, 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Cajerman, James, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126. 
Caldwell, Robert, 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Cameron, William, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Cantley (or Cundley), Robert, 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Cardenas, 

Description of the town, 53. 

Battle of, 55. 
Cardenas Expedition, 

Preparation for, 32, 33. 

The Kentucky Regiment, 34, 121. 

Colonel Theodore O'Hara, 34-36. 

Lieut. -Col. John T. Pickett, 37-44. 

Major Thomas T. Hawkins, 44-45. 



Index 



H3 



Cardenas Expedition— Continued: 
The start of the Kentucky Regiment, 46 
The embarkation, 47. 
First raising of the Cuban flag, 47. 
Origin of the Cuban flag, 47. 
The union of the forces, 48. 
The plan of campaign, 51. 
Description of Cardenas, 53. 
The disembarkation, 54. 
Kentuckians land first, 54. 
The battle of Cardenas, 55. 
Colonel O'Hara wounded, 55. 
Treachery of Ceruti, 56. 
The victory, 56. 
The retreat, 57. 
The stern chase, 61. 
Major Hawkins wounded, 62. 
The escape, 64. 
Carter, John, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 28. 
Cassanova, J. , 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Cecilia, The, 

Mentioned, 77. 
Ceruti, Senor, 

Treachery at Cardenas, 56. 
Mentioned, 56, 59. 
Chapman, Lieutenant James, 

Pardoned, 130. 
Chassana, Julio, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Chilling, William, 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Christides (or Cristides), John, 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Ciceri, Joseph, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Cichler, Conrad, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 29. 
Clure, John, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126. 
Coleman, Patrick, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Collins, E. T. (or E. J.), 
Shot in Havana, 88. 



Collins (or Colling), Napoleon, 

Shot in Havana, 87. 
Columbus, Christopher, 

Mentioned, 23. 
Concha, Jose de la, 

Mentioned, 77, 85. 
Constantine, W. S., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Cook, Cornelius, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Cook, Gilman A., 

Shot in Havana, 88. 

His last letter, 135. 

Mentioned, 72, 133, 
Cooper, John, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Cortez, Fernando, 

Mentioned, 8, 10. 
Costa (or Da Costa), Antonio, 

Mentioned, 88, 134. 
Cotchett (or Crockett), A. M., 

Shot in Havana, 87. 
Coussins, William, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Craft, William. H., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Creoles, 

Their attitude toward the Liberators, 
109. 
Creole, The 

Mentioned, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 53, 57, 
58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64. 
Cressy, Edgar, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126. 
Crigler, Lieutenant R. M., 

Mentioned, 131. 
Crittenden, George Bibb, 

His noble act, 17, 18. 
Crittenden, John, 

Mentioned, 73. 
Crittenden, John J., 

Colonel Crittenden's last letter to, 90. 

Mentioned, 73. 
Crittenden, Governor Thomas T., 

Mentioned, 3. 



1 44 



Index 



Crittenden, Colonel William Logan, 

Sketch of, 73, 74. 

Battle of San Miguel, 81, 82. 

Capture of, 85. 

Letter to Dr. Lucien Hensley, 89, 90. 

Letter to J. J. Crittenden, 90. 

" A Kentuckian Kneels to None but 
God," 93, 137. 

Shot in Havana, 87, 138. 

His remain in the common bone-heap, 
95- 

Mentioned, 3, 5, 16, 17, 70, 72, 74, 80, 
81, 97, 99, no, "8, 132, 133, 135, 
136, 137- 
Crockett, A. M., 

Shot in Havana, 87. 
Cruse, Henry, 

Killed at Cardenas, 122. 
Cuba, 

Brief sketch of, 23-31. 

Sowing the wind, 23. 

Reaping the whirlwind, 25. 

A despotic government, 26. 

Symptoms of revolution, 27. 

Black Eagle conspiracy, 27. 

The servile plot of 1844, 27. 

Narciso Lopez, 28. 

Revolutionary movement of 1848, 28. 

The Round Island expedition, 30. 

The Cardenas expedition, 32. 

The Bahia Honda Expedition, 66. 

Cuban bonds, 32, 33. 

Origin of the Cuban flag, 47. 

Cuban flag first raised, 47. 
Cully, Supe L., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 29. 
Dailey, Thomas, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 29. 
Davis, Jefferson, 

Declines command of expedition, 71. 
Dear, Lieutenant, 

Mentioned, 122. 
De Bournazal, P. C, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
D'Hau, Father, 

Mentioned, 134. 



De Lago, Colonel, 

Mentioned, no. 
Desha, General Joseph, 

Mentioned, 38. 
De Tapia, Diego, 

Mentioned, io5. 
Devew, James J., 

Mentioned, 131. 
De Wolf, Daniel E., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Denton, John, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Denton, Thomas, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Diaz, Manuel, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Dillon, Patrick, 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Don Carlos, 

Mentioned, 29. 
Douglas, Stephen A., 

Mentioned, 45. 
Dovren, Jose, 

Mentioned, 131. 
Downer, Charles H., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Downman, Colonel Robert L., 

Death of, 98. 

Mentioned, 72, 80. 
Duffy, Cornelius, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126. 
Dumouriez, Ch. Fr., 

Mentioned, 9. 
Dupar, Victor, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Durrett, Colonel Reuben T., 

Introduction by, 7-18. 
Edgerton, George, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126. 
Ellis, Captain, 

Mentioned, 72. 
Ellis, James, 

Shot in Havana, 88. 

Mentioned, 5, 76. 
Ellis, Robert, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 



Index 



H5 



Enna, General, 
Death of, 99. 
Mentioned, 81, 82, 83, 98. 
Esperanza, The, 

Mentioned, 86, 89, 91. 
Estes, Preston, 

Mentioned, 131. 
Essex, Preston, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Fagan, Benjamin, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Falcon, The, 

Mentioned, 96, 97. 
Fanborne, Isaac, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Fanny, The, 

Mentioned, 30. 
Faysoux, Private, 
Brave act of, 53. 
Fiddes, James, 

Mentioned, 131. 
" Fifty Cayeron," 

Spanish poem, 140. 
Filibusters and Filibustering, 

Brief account of, 7-12. 
Fillmore, Millard, 

Intercedes for the prisoners, 116. 
Fisher, John, 

Shot in Havana, 87. 
Fisher, N. H., 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Fisher Expedition to Mexico, 

Mentioned, 17. 
Fleuri, Manuel, 

Sent prisoner to Spain, 128. 
Foster, George, 

Mentioned, 131. 
Foster, George W., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Fourniquet, Dr., 
Shot in Havana, 87. 
Mentioned, 72. 
Foutz, Jacob, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 



Fox, John, Jr., 
Mentioned, 5. 
Frias, Battle of, 
Account of, 99. 
Gano, Daniel, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Mentioned, 85. 
Garcia, Francisco Cubia y, 

Mentioned, 131. 
Garcia, Senor, 

Anecdote concerning, 109. 
Garnett, Lieutenant J. J., 
Killed at Cardenas, 122. 
Mentioned, 121. 
Gath, Patrick Abac, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 29. 
Geblin, Charles, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126. 
Georgiana, The, 

Mentioned, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51. 
Gilmore, Benjamin, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Gonzales, Andres, 
Mentioned, 131. 
Gonzales, A. J., 
Wounded, 56. 
Mentioned, 51. 
Gouti (or Gotay), Captain, 
Mortally wounded, 98. 
Mentioned, 72, 78. 
Graham, John, of Claverhouse, 

Mentioned, 41. 
Green, G. M., 

Shot in Havana, 87. 
Green, Thomas M., 

Mentioned, 44. 
Greenlee, Lieutenant, 

Mentioned, 122. 
Grider, Robert H, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Guerro, Miguel, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 28. 
Gunst, Joseph B., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 



146 



Inde 



Habanero, The, 

Mentioned, 41, 80, 85, 86, 95, 98, 135. 
Hagan, Louis, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Hand, Benjamin, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126. 
Hanna, Benjamin, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126. 
Hardy, Lieutenant Richardson, 

Mentioned, 46, 121. 
Hardy, Major William, 

Mentioned, 121. 
Harnley, Lieutenant, 

Wounded at Cardenas, 122. 
Harrison, Charles, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Hart, Henry B., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 26. 
Hartnett (or Harnett), Thomas, 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Hawkins, Augustus, 

Mentioned, 45. 
Hawkins, Benjamin, 

Mentioned, 44. 
Hawkins, John, 

Mentioned, 44. 
Hawkins, Joseph, 

Mentioned, 45. 
Hawkins, Major Thomas T., 

Sketch of, 44, 45. 

Wounded, 62, 122. 

Mentioned, 5, 16, 34, 55, 58, 69, 100, 
121. 
Hawkins, William, 

Mentioned, 44. 
Hayes, Rutherford B., 

Mentioned, 41. 
Haynes, Colonel W. S., 

Pardoned, 130. 

Mentioned, 72. 
Hearsey, J, H., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Hearsey, Thomas, 

Shot in Havana, 88. 



Hefrow, M. L., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 26. 
Henningsen, Gen. C. F., 

His epitaph, 39. 
Henry, Timothy K., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 29. 
Hensley, Dr. Lucien, 

Crittenden's letter to, 89. 
Herb, William, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Hernandez, Anselmo Torres, 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Hernandez, Antonio, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Hero, William, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Hessen, W. L., 

Mentioned, 131. 
Hewitt, Abram S., 

Mentioned, 41. 
Hilton, Thomas, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128 
Hogan, William, 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Holdship, George, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126. 
Holmes, Francis B., 

Mentioned, 131. 
Holmes, William H., 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Horton, Lieutenant, 

Mentioned, 122. 
Horwell, Charles, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Hough, Fenton D., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126. 
Houston, General Felix, 

Mentioned, 74, 89, 96. 
Houston, General Sam, 

Mentioned, 10. 
Hoy, Thomas P., 

Mentioned, 21. 
Hudnall, Thomas, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 



Inde 



J 47 



Hughes, J. D., 

Mentioned, 131. 
Icarus, The, 

Mentioned, 16. 
Iglesias, Francisco, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Illustrations, 

List of, 21. 
Insurrection op 1844, 

Mentioned, 27. 
Introduction, 

By Colonel R. T. Durrett, 7-18. 
Isabella, Queen of Spain, 

Mentioned, 29, 116, 140. 
Iwen, James G., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Jackson, Captain, 

Mentioned, 72. 
James, Robert, 

Mentioned, 133. 
James, Lieutenant Thos. C, 

Shot in Havana, 87. 

Last letter, 132. 
Johnson, Captain, 

Mentioned, 72. 
Johnson, Lieutenant Albert W., 

Mentioned, 121. 
Johnson, John, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Johnston, Albert Sidney, 

Mentioned, 36. 
Johnston, Judge George W., 

Mentioned, 13, 14. 
Johnston, Lieutenant John Carl, 

His service with Lopez, 13-15, 121. 
Jones, Commodore Catesby, 

Mentioned, 44. 
Jones, S. C. (or S. S.), 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Kelly, Capt. J. A., 

Pardoned, 130. 

Mentioned, 72, 83, 97. 
Kenton, Simon, 

Mentioned, 37. 



Kentucky Regiment, 

Field Officers, 34, 70, 71. 

First to land in Cuba, 54. 

Partial roster of, 121. 

Losses at Cardenas, 122, 

Composition of, 70. 

Behavior of at New Orleans, 
7i- 
Ker, Felicia, 

Mentioned, 132. 
Ker, Robert, 

Mentioned, 132. 
Ker, Captain Victor, 

Last letters of, 132. 

Shot in Havana, 87, 94. 

Mentioned, 70, 72, 76, 90. 
Kerekes, Bela, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Keyworth, Mary, 

Mentioned, 38. 
Keyworth, Major Robert, 

Mentioned, 39. 
Kline, John, 

Mentioned, 131. 
Knight, Captain, 

Mentioned, 121. 
Knott, Lieutenant, 

Mentioned, 122. 
Knowll, C, 

Mentioned, 131. 
Kossuth, Louis, 

Mentioned, 75, 76. 
Labizan, Lieutenant, 

Death of, 98. 
Lacoste, Peter, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Lacroix, Father, 

Mentioned, 134. 
Laine, Fr. A., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 28. 
Laningham, Lieutenant, 

Mentioned, 78. 
Las Pozas, Battle at, 

Account of, 98. 



Index 



Lee, Robert E., 

Declines command of expedition, 7 1 . 

Mentioned, 42. 
Lee, Thomas H., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 26. 
Letters, Last, of, 

Colonel William L. Crittenden, 89, 90. 

Captain Victor Ker, 132. 

Lieutenant Thomas C. James, 132. 

Lieutenant James Brandt, 133. 

Adjutant R. C. Stanford, 133. 

Honore Tacite Vienne, 134. 

Gilman A. Cook, 135. 
Lewis, Captain, 

Mentioned, 48, 121. 
Lewohl, Lieutenant, 

Mentioned, 72. 
LiEger, M., 

Mentioned, 131. 
Little, Thomas, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 26. 
Little, William B., 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Logan, General Benjamin, 

Mentioned, 73. 
Logan, Captain John A., 

Death of, 58, 122. 

Mentioned, 5, 16, 121. 
Lopez, General Narciso, 

Sketch of, 28, 30. 

Revolt of 1848, 28, 

Round Island expedition, 30. 

Cuban bonds, 32, 33. 

Arrest of, 64, 65. 

Deceived, 76, 118, 119. 

Capture of, 106. 

Execution of, 107. 
Lopez, Pedro Manuel, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Lorimer, Laura, 

Poem, " The Death of Crittenden,"i39. 
Losner, William, 

Mentioned, 131. 
Ludwing, Ansell R., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 



McCann, Reverend John McF., 

Chaplain of Kentucky Regiment, 121. 

Mortally wounded at Cardenas, 122. 
McClelland, Thomas., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
McDerman, Captain J., 

Mentioned, 122. 
McDillon, Thomas, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
McDonald, Edm. H., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
McDonald, Sergeant-Major, 

Mentioned, 122. 
McIlcer (or McIlser), Alexander, 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
McKensey, W. H., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
McKiniop, John, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126. 
McLeabe, Bernard, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 29. 
McMill, Thomas L., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
McMullen, Peter, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
McMurray, C. A., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Mahan, F. C, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Maine, The, 

Mentioned, 95. 
ManvillE, James L. (or James R.), 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Martha Washington, The, 

Mentioned, 46. 
Martinas, Augustine, 

Mentioned, 58. 
Martinez, Manuel, 

Sent prisoner to Spain, 128. 
Mason, James M., 

Mentioned, 41. 
Maximilian, Emperor, 

Mentioned, 41. 
Malesimo, Martin, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 



Index 



149 



Metcalfe, George E., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Metcalfe, Henry 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Miller, Joaquin, 

Mentioned, 40. 
Miller, William, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Mills, Samuel, 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Miranda, Francisco, 

Mentioned, 9, 10, 11, 43. 
Monroe, Thomas R., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Muellen, Martin, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 29. 
Murphy, John, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 29. 
Murray, Mrs., 

Mentioned, 118. 
Nelson, Richard, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
New Orleans, The, 

Mentioned, 30. 
Niceman (or NisEman), William, 

Shot at Havana, 88. 
Niskos, Janos, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Nolasco, Pedro, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Null, Charles, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Oberto, Captain, 

Mentioned, 72. 
O'Hara, Colonel Theodore, 

Sketch of, 34"3 6 - 

" Bivouac of the Dead," 35, 123. 

Wounded at Cardenas, 55, 122. 

Sheds first blood for Cuba, 55. 

Mentioned, 5,16, 34,46,48,5o,'54, 55,1 18. 
Oliphant, Laurence, 

Mentioned, 135. 
Otis, Elijah J., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 



Owen, Allen F., 

Mentioned, 96, 114. 
Pampero, The, 

Mentioned, 74, 75, 77, 79. 
Paratolt, Conrad, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Parker, Commodore, 

Mentioned, 97, 114, 115. 
Parr, George, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Pendleton, Captain, 

Mentioned, 47, 48. 
Peteri, John, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Petrel, The, 

Mentioned, 64. 
Phillips, M., 

Shot at Havana, 88. 
Pickett, James C, 

Mentioned, 38, 42, 43. 
Pickett, John, 

Mentioned, 37, 42. 
Pickett, Lieutenant-Colonel John T., 

Sketch of, 37-44- 

Mentioned, 4, 5, 16, 34, 49, 54. 57. 58, 
59, 69, 100. 
Pickett, Mary Keyworth, 

Mentioned, 38. 
Pickett, Dr. Thomas E., 

Mentioned, 4. 
Pickett, William S., 

Mentioned, 37. 
Pizarro, The, 

Mentioned, 51, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 
77. 79. 81, 107. 
Platt, Captain, 

Mentioned, 114, 115. 
Pragay, General John, 

Mortally wounded, 98. 

Mentioned, 72, 76, 133. 
Prisoners sent to Spain, 

List of, 1 26. 
Prisoners Pardoned, 

List of, 1 30. 



i5° 



Inde'k 



Pruitt, John L., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
PurnEll, S. H., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Quisenberry, A. C, 

Mentioned, 13, 16, 17. 
Quitman, General John A., 

Mentioned, 119. 
Radnitz, Captain, 

Mentioned, 72. 
Randolph, Captain, 

Mentioned, 92. 
Rawlings, C. H., 

Mentioned, 122. 
Reading, Jack, 

Mentioned, 121. 
Redding, William, 

Mentioned, 122. 
Reed, Samuel, 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Rekendorf, Lieutenant, 

Mentioned, 72. 
Reeves, Wilson L., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Rey, Lieutenant, 

Conducts the massacre at Havana, 87. 
Richardson, George W., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126. 
Richardson, Honorable John T., 

Mentioned, 41. 
Robinson, Charles A., 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Robinson, Capt. Henry, 

Mentioned, 121. 
Robinson, Captain H. H., 

Mentioned, 121. 
Roche, James Jeffrey, 

Mentioned, 136. 
Rogers, Lieutenant, 

Mentioned, 64. 
Romero, Antonio, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Ross (or Roys), A., 

Shot in Havana, 88. 



Round Island Expedition, 

Failure of, 30. 

Mentioned, 32. 
Rousseau, David Q., 

His serio-comic letter, 135. 

Sent prisoner to Spain, 127. 

Mentioned, 136, 137. 
Rulman, Edward, 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Russell, William H., 

Mentioned, 39. 
Salmon, Captain, 

Mentioned, 16. 
Salmon, J. M., 

Shot in Havana, 87. 
Sanchez, Commandant, 

Mentioned, no. 
Sanders, Captain, 

Mentioned, 72. 
Sanka (or Sunks), John G., 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
San Miguel, 

Battle of, 80, 81. 
Santa Anna, General, 

Mentioned, 17. 
Santa Rosa, Dr., 

Mentioned, 117. 
Saranac, The, 

Mentioned, 97, 114. 
Sarmerio, Eduardo, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Sawyer, Captain Fred S., 

Shot in Havana, 87. 
Sayle, Henry, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Sayre, Lieutenant, 

Wounded at Cardenas, 122. 

Mentioned, 122. 
Scheiprt, Zyriack, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 29. 
Schlesinger, Major Lewis, 

Mentioned, 70, 71, 72, 99, 117, 131. 
Schlicht, Captain, 

Mentioned, 72. 



Index 



151 



SCHLUHT, HARLO, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Schmidt, George, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Schmidt, Henry, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Schuets, Robert, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 
Schulte, R., 

Mentioned, 131. 
Scott, Malbon K., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Scott, Dr. Samuel, 

Mentioned, 121. 
Sea Gum., The, 

Mentioned, 30. 
Seay, Dandridge, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 26. 
Sebring, Cornelius, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Senepli, Ciriaco, 

Mentioned, 131. 
Ships or Steamers Mentioned, 

Albany, 91, 92, 114. 

Almendares, 80, 98, 105, 107. 

Cecilia, 77. 

Creole, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 53, 57, 58, 60, 
61, 62, 63. 

Esperanza, 86, 89, 91. 

Falcon, 96, 97 

Fanny, 30. 

Georgiana, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51. 

Habanero, 51, 80, 85, 86, 95, 98, 
135- 

Icarus, 16. 

Maine, 95. 

Martha Washington, 46. 

New Orleans, 30. 

Pampero, 74, 75, 77, 79. 

Petrel, 64. 

Pizarro, 51, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 77, 79, 
81, 107. 

Saranac, 97, 114. 

Sea Gull, 30. 



Ships or Steamers Mentioned- 
Continued : 

Susan Loud, 47, 48, 51. 

Virginius, 117. 
Sigur, L. J., 

Active revolutionist, 66. 

Mentioned, 68, 74. 
Simpson, J. P., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126. 
Slideix, John, 

Mentioned, 41. 
Smith, C. C. Wm. (or C. W.), 

Shot at Havana, 88. 
Smith, Henry, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126, 
Smith, James, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126. 
Smith, Joe, 

Mentioned, 121. 
Sowers, John A., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 128. 
Spanish Poem, 

" Fifty Cayeron," 140. 
Stanford, C. R., 

His last letter, 133. 

Shot in Havana, 87. 

Mentioned, 5, 90, 133. 
StanmirE, H, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126. 
Stanton, Henry T., 

Mentioned, 37. 
Stanton, James, 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Stevens, Joseph, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Stewart, Captain, 

Mentioned, 72. 
Stubbs, John, 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Sucit, J., 

Mentioned, 131. 
SujilolET, L., 

Mentioned, 131. 



152 



Index 



Summers, H. G., 

Pardoned, 130. 
Susan Loud, The, 

Mentioned, 47, 48, 51. 
Tantum, James, 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Taylor, Conrad, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 29. 
" The Death of Crittenden," 

Poem, by Laura Lorimer, 139. 
Thomasson, H. J., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Thrasher, John S., 

Punished for his humanity, 1 16. 
Tilden, Samuel J., 

Mentioned, 41. 
Titus, H. T., 

Mentioned, 121. 
Todd, John, 

Mentioned, 44. 
Tourniquet (or Fourniquet), Dr. H., 

Shot in Havana, 87. 
Uregy (or Wregy), B. J., 

Shot in Havana, 88. 
Valdes, General, 

Mentioned, 29. 
Van Vechten, Lieutenant P S., 

Pardoned, 130. 

Mentioned, 98, 99. 
Vaughan, William H., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Vesey, T. S. (or Veasey, J. B.), Capt., 

Shot in Havana, 87. 

VlENNE, HONORE TACITE, 

His last letter, 314. 
Shot in Havana, 88. 
Virag, Janos, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 129. 



Virginius, The, 

Mentioned, 117. 
Walker, William, 

Mentioned, 15, 16, 36, 40, 135. 
Webster, Daniel, 

Mentioned, 136. 
Weiss, Edward, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 29. 
West, Henry, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Wheat, Colonel, 

Mentioned, 47, 49, 55, 101. 
Wheeling, Robert, 

Wounded at Cardenas, 1 22. 
Wilkinson, William L., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Williams, Harney, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 1 26. 
Wilson, Captain F. C, 

Mentioned, 121. 
Wilson, George, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126. 
Wilson, James M., 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126 
Wilson, Mrs. Mary E., 

Poem, " A Kentuckian Kneels to None 
but God." 
Wilson, William (Ky.), 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Wilson, William (N. Y.), 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126. 
Winburn, David, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 126. 
WlTHERENS, J. A., 

Shot in Havana, 87. 
Woer, Armand, 

Sent to Spain a prisoner, 127. 
Work, Thomas, 

Mentioned, 122. 



LIST OF MEMBERS 

Adams, Gilmer S Louisville, Kentucky. 

Anderson, Colonel Latham Kuttawa, Kentucky. 

Anderson, James Blythe Lexington, Kentucky. 

Anderson, Wilkins G Louisville, Kentucky. 

Anderson, Miss Annie S Louisville, Kentucky. 

Anderson, Miss Annie M Taylorsville, Kentucky. 

Arrick, Reverend A. Judson Louisville, Kentucky. 

Atherton, John M Louisville, Kentucky. 

Atherton, Peter Lee Louisville, Kentucky. 

Atkinson, John Bond Earlington, Kentucky. 

Averitt, Samuel Louisville, Kentucky. 

Ballard, Charles T Louisville, Kentucky. 

Barker, Honorable Henry S. . . .Frankfort, Kentucky. 

Barker, Maxwell S Louisville, Kentucky. 

Barlow, Miss Florence Louisville, Kentucky. 

Barr, Honorable John W Louisville, Kentucky. 

Barnett, Mrs. Evelyn S. S Louisville, Kentucky. 

Barr, Garland H Lexington, Kentucky. 

Barfield, Castello Parkland, Kentucky. 

Barret, Henry W Louisville, Kentucky. 

Barret, Alexander G Louisville, Kentucky. 

Barrett, Mrs. Margaret Brown Frankfort, Kentucky. 
Beckner, Honorable William M. Winchester, Kentucky. 

Bethel, Mrs. Theresa W Danville, Kentucky. 

Bickel, C. C Louisville, Kentucky. 



i 5 4 List of Members 

Bingham, Robert Worth Louisville, Kentucky. 

Black, I. D Barboursville, Kentucky. 

Blackburn, Mrs. Julia C Louisville, Kentucky. 

Blackburn, Miss Jennie D Bowling Green, Kentucky. 

Blain, Randolph H Louisville, Kentucky. 

Blanton, Reverend L. H Danville, Kentucky. 

Bloom, Doctor I. N Louisville, Kentucky. 

Bockee, Jacob S Louisville, Kentucky. 

Bohne, Ernest C Louisville, Kentucky. 

Bohannan, Thomas Louisville, Kentucky. 

Booker, William F Louisville, Kentucky. 

Boone, Mrs. Carrie Morris Louisville, Kentucky. 

Booth, Percy N Louisville, Kentucky. 

Bourne, Captain James M Louisville, Kentucky. 

Bourne, Miss A. R Bethany College, W. Va. 

Bowmar, Daniel Mayes Versailles, Kentucky. 

Bransford, Clifton W Owensboro, Kentucky. 

Brooks, Miss Helen Lee Louisville, Kentucky. 

Brent, George A Louisville, Kentucky. 

Brodhead, Lucas Versailles, Kentucky. 

Brown, George G Louisville, Kentucky. 

Brown, Owsley Louisville, Kentucky. 

Bruce, Helm Louisville, Kentucky. 

Bryan, Miss Mary B Lexington, Kentucky 

Bullitt, Major Thomas W Louisville, Kentucky. 

Buckner, Honorable Simon B. . . . Rio, Kentucky. 

Bullitt, Joshua F Big Stone Gap, Virginia. 

Bullock, Cabell B Lexington, Kentucky. 

Burnham, Honorable Curtis F . .Richmond, Kentucky. 
Burnett, James C Shelbyville, Kentucky. 



List of Members 

Burnett, Hon. Theodore L Louisville, Kentucky. 

Burnett, Henry Louisville, Kentucky. 

Burton, George L Louisville, Kentucky, 

Caldwell, Mrs. Minnie N Louisville, Kentucky. 

Cantrell, Mrs. Mary C Georgetown, Kentucky. 

Carroll, Charles Louisville, Kentucky. 

Carlisle, Honorable John G. . . . New York City. 
Castleman, General John B .... Louisville, Kentucky. 

Castleman, Breckinridge Louisville, Kentucky. 

Cawein, Madison J Louisville, Kentucky. 

Chamberlain, Miss Catherine .... Louisville, Kentucky. 

Cheatham, Dr. William Louisville, Kentucky. 

Chenault, Mrs. Sallie H Richmond, Kentucky. 

Clarke, Peyton N Louisville, Kentucky. 

Clay, Miss Lucretia H Lexington, Kentucky. 

Clay, Mrs. Mary Rogers Lexington, Kentucky. 

Clay, James W Henderson, Kentucky. 

Clay, Honorable Cassius M Paris, Kentucky. 

Coates, Mrs. Ida Symmes Louisville, Kentucky. 

Cochran, John Louisville, Kentucky. 

Coke, Doctor R. C Louisville, Kentucky. 

Coke, Mrs. Queenie Blackburn . .Louisville, Kentucky. 

Cook, Charles Lee Louisville, Kentucky. 

Coleman, Reverend Henry R ... Louisville, Kentucky. 

Cooper, Albert R Louisville, Kentucky. 

Cottell, Doctor Henry A Louisville, Kentucky. 

Cowan, Colonel Andrew Louisville, Kentucky. 

Cowan, Mrs. Anna Gilbert Louisville, Kentucky. 

Crawford, Rev. Clarence K Louisville, Kentucky. 

Cross, Professor William O Louisville, Kentucky. 



155 



156 List of Members 

Cutler, Samuel M Louisville, Kentucky. 

Dabney, Doctor S. G Louisville, Kentucky. 

Davis, Captain William W Louisville, Kentucky. 

Davie, Preston Louisville, Kentucky. 

Davis, Major William I Louisville, Kentucky. 

Deppen, Very Reverend Louis G. . Louisville, Kentucky. 

Dennis, Harry Allen Louisville, Kentucky. 

Dick, Mrs. Belle Thornton Louisville, Kentucky. 

Dickey, Reverend John J Simpsonville, Kentucky. 

Diehl, C. Lewis Louisville, Kentucky. 

Diltz, Hanson Penn Hopkinsville, Kentucky. 

Dixon, Mrs. Sue Bullitt West Point, Kentucky. 

Doherty, Daniel E Louisville, Kentucky. 

Doerhoefer, Basil Louisville, Kentucky. 

Donigan, Mrs. R. W Louisville, Kentucky. 

Dougherty, William H Owingsville, Kentucky. 

Douthitt, Stonewall J Newcastle, Kentucky. 

Duke, General Basil W Louisville, Kentucky. 

Duncan, Mrs. Fanny Casseday . . . Louisville, Kentucky. 

Dunlap, Doctor Fayette Danville, Kentucky. 

DuRelle, Honorable George .... Louisville, Kentucky. 

Durrett, Colonel Reuben T Louisville, Kentucky. 

Durrett, Doctor William T Louisville, Kentucky. 

Durrett, Mrs. Sara E Louisville, Kentucky. 

Durrett, Reuben T., Junior Louisville, Kentucky. 

Eddy, Joseph Marvin Louisville, Kentucky. 

Englehard, Victor H Louisville, Kentucky. 

Evans, Doctor Thomas Crain Louisville, Kentucky. 

Farnsley, Burel H Louisville, Kentucky. 

Fairleigh, David W Louisville, Kentucky. 



List of Members 157 

Fenley, Oscar Louisville, Kentucky. 

Field, Honorable Emmet Louisville, Kentucky. 

Finck, Edward Bertrand Louisville, Kentucky. 

Fleming, Arnold Harris Louisville, Kentucky. 

Ford, Arthur Y Louisville, Kentucky. 

Fowler, Colonel Charles W. . . . Lyndon, Kentucky. 

Gardner, Miss Lizzie Louisville, Kentucky. 

Gates, Charles D Louisville, Kentucky. 

Gaulbert, George Louisville, Kentucky. 

Gaulbert, J. William Louisville, Kentucky. 

Gentry, Robert T Sonora, Kentucky. 

Gibson, Charles H Louisville, Kentucky. 

Gilbert, Honorable G. G Shelbyville, Kentucky. 

Gifford, Harley N Louisville, Kentucky. 

Gilbert, Doctor Richard B Louisville, Kentucky. 

Godshaw, Doctor Craine C Louisville, Kentucky. 

Goodloe, Miss Abbie Carter . . . .Louisville, Kentucky. 

Graham, Samuel P Louisville, Kentucky. 

Green, Pinckney F Louisville, Kentucky. 

Green, Miss Susie T Louisville, Kentucky. 

Green, Miss Nanci Lewis Lexington, Kentucky. 

Green, John E New York City. 

Greenley, Doctor Thomas Brady. . Meadow Lawn, Kentucky. 

Griswold, Howard M Louisville, Kentucky. 

Grubbs, Charles S Louisville, Kentucky. 

Gunn, John T Lexington, Kentucky. 

Hagan, Frank Louisville, Kentucky. 

Haldeman, Bruce Louisville, Kentucky. 

Halsey, Edward T Louisville, Kentucky. 

Harding, John Pleasureville, Kentucky. 



158 List of Members 

Harris, Honorable Walter O . . . Louisville, Kentucky. 
Harrison, Mrs. Ida Withers .... Lexington, Kentucky. 

Hart, Mrs. Rebecca T Versailles, Kentucky. 

Hardy, Mrs. Sallie E. M Louisville, Kentucky. 

Hays, Major Thomas H Louisville, Kentucky. 

Hays, Mrs. Rosa Belle McCullough, Louisville, Kentucky. 

Hazelrigg, Judge James H Frankfort, Kentucky. 

Helm, James P Louisville, Kentucky. 

Hemingray, Miss Lida B Louisville, Kentucky. 

Helm, John L Louisville, Kentucky. 

Hendrick, Honorable William J. .New York City. 

Hermany, Charles Louisville, Kentucky. 

Hewitt, General Fayette Frankfort, Kentucky. 

Hill, Thomas P Stanford, Kentucky. 

Hill, Reuben Douglass Louisville, Kentucky. 

Hines, Edward W Louisville, Kentucky. 

Hite, William W Louisville, Kentucky. 

Hitchcock, C. J Louisville, Kentucky. 

Hocker, Jesse S Stanford, Kentucky. 

Hopkins, Anderson H Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. 

Hopper, James W Louisville, Kentucky. 

Howard, Honorable Henry L. . . .Harlan, Kentucky. 

Howe, Benjamin . Louisville, Kentucky. 

Hughes, Harry H Louisville, Kentucky. 

Humphrey, Hon. Alexander P. . . . Louisville, Kentucky. 

Humphrey, E. W. C Louisville, Kentucky. 

Hume, William Garvin Louisville, Kentucky. 

Humphrey, Mrs. Sarah G Versailles, Kentucky. 

Hundley, John B Louisville, Kentucky. 

Huntoon, Benjamin B Louisville, Kentucky. 



List of Members 159 

Hurst, William L Campton, Kentucky. 

Irwin, Honorable Harvey S Louisville, Kentucky. 

Jenkins, Reverend Burris A . . . .Lexington, Kentucky. 

Johnson, Charles F Louisville, Kentucky. 

Johnson, E. Polk Louisville, Kentucky. 

Johnston, Colonel J. Stoddard . . Louisville, Kentucky. 

Johnston, Miss Mary Louisville, Kentucky. 

Jones, Judge L. H Louisville, Kentucky. 

Jones, Thomas S Louisville, Kentucky. 

Kaufman, Henry Louisville, Kentucky. 

Kearns, Doctor Charles Covington, Kentucky. 

Kelly, Colonel Robert Louisville, Kentucky. 

Kinchloe, Jesse B Shelbyville, Kentucky. 

Kelley, Doctor Clinton W Louisville, Kentucky. 

Kerrick, Professor Felix Louisville, Kentucky. 

Kinkead, Robert C Louisville, Kentucky. 

Kinkead, Cleves C Louisville, Kentucky. 

Kirby, Honorable Samuel B . . . .Jefferson County, Kentucky. 
Knott, Honorable J. Proctor . . . Lebanon, Kentucky. 

Knott, Richard W Louisville, Kentucky. 

Knott, Stuart R Kansas City, Missouri. 

Lafon, Miss Mary Louisville, Kentucky. 

Lancaster, Mrs. Catherine Louisville, Kentucky. 

Lau, Mrs. Helen Adams Brooklyn, New York. 

Leak, John S Louisville, Kentucky. 

Leech, Mrs. Caroline A Louisville, Kentucky. 

Leopold, Lawrence S Louisville, Kentucky. 

Levi, Miss Lily E Louisville, Kentucky. 

Lewis, John C Louisville, Kentucky. 

Lewis, Henry John Terlingua, Texas. 



160 List of Members 

Lewman, George W Louisville, Kentucky. 

Lindsay, Honorable William New York City. 

Lindsay, Charles M Louisville, Kentucky. 

Litsey, E. Carl Lebanon, Kentucky. 

Little, Honorable Lucius P Owensboro, Kentucky. 

Lytle, Mrs. Elizabeth Louisville, Kentucky. 

Logan, Emmet G Glasgow, Kentucky. 

MacKoy, Honorable William H Covington, Kentucky. 

MacKoy, Harry Brent Covington, Kentucky. 

Mark, Professor Edgar Louisville, Kentucky. 

Mathews, Mrs. M. C. Duke New York City. 

Marcosson, Isaac H Louisville, Kentucky. 

Mercer, S. C Hopkinsville, Kentucky. 

Miller, Howard Louisville, Kentucky. 

Miller, Honorable Shackelford Louisville, Kentucky. 

Miller, Doctor Joseph L Ashland, Kentucky. 

Mooney, C..H Louisville, Kentucky. 

Morgan, John Hunt Lexington, Kentucky. 

Morris, George W Louisville, Kentucky. 

Morrow, Honorable Thomas Z . Somerset, Kentucky. 

Morton, Hon. J. R Lexington, Kentucky. 

Mourning, G. H Louisville, Kentucky. 

Muir, Honorable Peter B Louisville, Kentucky. 

Mulligan, Mrs. Genevieve Morgan, Lexington, Kentucky. 

Murray, Logan C Louisville, Kentucky. 

McBee, Augustus E Louisville, Kentucky. 

McCarthy, Mrs. Lily P Louisville, Kentucky. 

McChord, William C Springfield, Kentucky. 

McBeath, Honorable Thomas R . Leitchfield, Kentucky. 
McCloskey, Rt. Rev. Wm. George . Louisville, Kentucky. 



List of Members 161 

McConathy, Major William I Louisville, Kentucky. 

McCormick, Doctor J. M Bowling Green, Kentucky. 

McChesney, Frank L Paris, Kentucky. 

McCreary, Honorable James B . Richmond, Kentucky. 

McCulloch, Joseph G Louisville, Kentucky. 

McDonald, Edward L Louisville, Kentucky. 

McDowell, Mrs. Catherine G. W.Louisville, Kentucky. 

McGonigale, W. J Louisville, Kentucky. 

McKnight, Stuart Louisville, Kentucky. 

McKnight, William H Louisville, Kentucky. 

McPherson, Ernest Louisville, Kentucky. 

Newcomb, Herman Danforth Louisville, Kentucky. 

Newman, George A., Junior Louisville, Kentucky. 

Nelson, Judge George B Winchester, Kentucky. 

Nicholson, Colonel George B. . . .Covington, Kentucky. 

Norman, Albert C Savannah, Georgia. 

O'Doherty, Judge Matthew O . . .Louisville, Kentucky. 

Ogden, Reverend H. G Louisville, Kentucky. 

O'Neal, Joseph T Louisville, Kentucky. 

O'Sullivan, Daniel E Louisville, Kentucky. 

Otter, Robert H Louisville, Kentucky. 

Owens, Honorable William C . . . Louisville, Kentucky. 
Owsley, Honorable William F . . Burkesville, Kentucky. 

Parish, Philemon P Midway, Kentucky. 

Patterson, Professor James K . . . Lexington, Kentucky. 

Parker, Doctor John W. F Somerset, Kentucky. 

Parker, Charles A Louisville, Kentucky. 

Parks, Professor Robert M Louisville, Kentucky. 

Pendleton, Dwight L Winchester, Kentucky. 

Pennebaker, Elliott K Louisville, Kentucky. 



162 List of Members 

Perkins, Benjamin T., Junior . . . .Elkton, Kentucky. 

Peter, Miss Johanna Lexington, Kentucky. 

Peter, M. Cary Louisville, Kentucky. 

Pettet, Miss Catherine Lexington, Kentucky. 

Pettus, Joseph Louisville, Kentucky. 

Pickett, Doctor Thomas E Maysville, Kentucky. 

Pirtle, Honorable James S Louisville, Kentucky. 

Pirtle, Captain Alfred Louisville, Kentucky. 

Pirtle, John Rowan Louisville, Kentucky. 

Pope, Mrs. Sallie Ewing Louisville, Kentucky. 

Pottinger, Samuel Forest Washington, D. C. 

Powell, Reverend Edward L. . . Louisville, Kentucky. 

Powers, Joshua Dee Louisville, Kentucky. 

Price, General Samuel W Chattanooga, Tennessee. 

Price, Vernon D Louisville, Kentucky. 

Priest, William C Louisville, Kentucky. 

Pryor, Honorable William S. . . . Newcastle, Kentucky. 

Quarrier, Cushman Louisville, Kentucky. 

Queen, Miss Octavia Louisville, Kentucky. 

Quisenberry, John A Danville, Kentucky. 

Quisenberry, A. C Hyattsville, Maryland. 

Reeve, John J Henderson, Kentucky. 

Reed, John Duff Louisville, Kentucky. 

Revenaugh, Aurelius O Louisville, Kentucky. 

Reynolds, Doctor Dudley S Louisville, Kentucky. 

Richards, Honorable A. E Louisville, Kentucky. 

Richardson, Orla C Louisville, Kentucky. 

Richardson, Doctor John B Louisville, Kentucky. 

Riddle, Honorable Robert Irvine, Kentucky. 

Robinson, C. Bonnycastle Louisville, Kentucky. 



List of Members 163 

Rowell, Joseph Kirk Louisville, Kentucky. 

Rucker, Reverend James J Georgetown, Kentucky. 

Russell, John C Louisville, Kentucky. 

Rutledge, Arthur M Louisville, Kentucky. 

Sackett, Frederick M Louisville, Kentucky. 

Sanders, Henry V Louisville, Kentucky. 

Sanders, Major David W Louisville, Kentucky. 

Sanders, Miss Myra Shepherdsville, Kentucky. 

Schroeder, Miss Emma Sidell. . . . Louisville, Kentucky. 

Schroeder, Miss Marie C Louisville, Kentucky. 

Scott, John Matthew Louisville, Kentucky. 

Schulte, Batts Overton Louisville, Kentucky. 

Sea, Mrs. Sophia Fox Louisville, Kentucky. 

Selligman, Alfred Louisville, Kentucky. 

Semple, Mrs. Patty B Louisville, Kentucky. 

Semple, Miss Ellen C Louisville, Kentucky. 

Shackelford, W. Rodes Richmond, Kentucky. 

Shelby, Mrs. Susan Hart Lexington, Kentucky. 

Shelby, Evan New York City. 

Shelby, John T Lexington, Kentucky. 

Sheldon, General H. S Louisville, Kentucky. 

Sheild, Charles H Louisville, Kentucky. 

Shreve, Charles U Louisville, Kentucky. 

Sherley, Honorable Swager Louisville, Kentucky. 

Slaughter, Mrs. Elvira Miller .Louisville, Kentucky. 

Sloss, Stanley E Louisville, Kentucky. 

Smith, Doctor David T Louisville, Kentucky. 

Smith, Clark O Louisville, Kentucky. 

Smith, Rogers M Worthington, Kentucky. 

Smith, Milton H Louisville, Kentucky. 



1 64 List of Members 

Smith, Zachariah F Louisville, Kentucky. 

Smith, Captain S. Calhoun Louisville, Kentucky. 

Smyser, Jacob L Louisville, Kentucky. 

Speed, James B Louisville, Kentucky. 

Stege, Miss Lillian E Louisville, Kentucky. 

Steele, John A Midway, Kentucky. 

Stephenson, Hon. William W . . . . Harrodsburg, Kentucky. 

Stewart, Miss Jessie Louisville, Kentucky. 

Stewart, Charles J Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Stites, John Louisville, Kentucky. 

Strother, Professor James M . . . Louisville, Kentucky. 

Strother, John C ■ Louisville, Kentucky. 

Swearingen, Embry L Louisville, Kentucky. 

Sweets, Reverend David Shelbyville, Kentucky. 

Sweets, Reverend Henry H ... Louisville, Kentucky. 

Taylor, Edward H., Junior Frankfort, Kentucky. 

Terry, Alvah L Louisville, Kentucky. 

Tevis, Robert C Louisville, Kentucky. 

Tevis, John Louisville, Kentucky. 

Thatcher, Maurice H Louisville, Kentucky. 

Tharp, Professor William H ... Louisville, Kentucky. 
Thomas, Rev. Frank Morehead . . . Owensboro, Kentucky. 

Thompson, Mrs. Virginia C Washington, D. C. 

Thornton, David L Versailles, Kentucky. 

Thornton, Robert A Lexington, Kentucky. 

Thruston, R. C. Ballard Louisville, Kentucky. 

Thum, William W Louisville, Kentucky. 

Todd, Honorable George D Louisville, Kentucky. 

Todd, Admiral C. C Frankfort, Kentucky. 

Toney, Honorable Sterling B. . .Denver, Colorado. 



List of Members 165 

Townsend, John W Lexington, Kentucky. 

Tucker, Mrs. Mattie B Louisville, Kentucky. 

Turner, Mrs. Eugenia Louisville, Kentucky. 

Veech, Richard S St. Matthews, Kentucky. 

Walker, Walter Louisville, Kentucky. 

Wallace, Joseph M Danville, Kentucky. 

Waller, Granville B Louisville, Kentucky. 

Walter, Lewis A Louisville, Kentucky. 

Walton, Doctor Claiborn J Munfordsville, Kentucky. 

Waltz, Reverend S. S Louisville, Kentucky. 

Ward, Colonel John H Louisville, Kentucky. 

Warren, Eugene C Louisville, Kentucky. 

Warren, Reverend Edward L . . Louisville, Kentucky. 
Warthen, Miss Margaret Adams Louisville, Kentucky. 

Wathen, Doctor William H Louisville, Kentucky. 

Watts, Miss Lucy Louisville, Kentucky. 

Watterson, Honorable Henry . . . Louisville, Kentucky. 

Wells, Lewis G Louisville, Kentucky. 

Weissinger, Harry Louisville, Kentucky. 

Welch, John Harrison Nicholasville, Kentucky. 

Wheat, John L Louisville, Kentucky. 

Wheeler, F. Clay Winchester, Kentucky. 

White, Honorable John D Louisville, Kentucky. 

Wickliffe, John D Bardstown, Kentucky. 

Wilhoit, E. B Grayson, Kentucky. 

Williams, Doctor Margaret C . . . Louisville, Kentucky. 

Willson, Augustus E Louisville, Kentucky. 

Wilson, Doctor Dunning S Louisville, Kentucky. 

Wilson, Samuel M Lexington, Kentucky. 

Winchester, Honorable Boyd . . . Louisville, Kentucky. 



166 List of Members 

Wood, William F Louisville, Kentucky. 

Wood, Charles Francis Louisville, Kentucky. 

Woodruff, Mrs. Janie Scott Augusta, Georgia. 

Woods, Reverend Neander Clarksville, Tennessee. 

Woods, Robert E Louisville, Kentucky. 

Woodson, Isaac T Louisville, Kentucky. 

Woolfolk, Leander C Louisville, Kentucky. 

Worthington, Doctor Samuel M . Versailles, Kentucky. 

Wright, Miss Carrie McL Louisville, Kentucky. 

Yager, Professor Arthur Georgetown, Kentucky. 

Yandell, Miss Enid New York City. 

Young, Colonel Bennett H Louisville, Kentucky. 

Yerkes, Honorable John W Danville, Kentucky. 

Younglove, John E Bowling Green, Kentucky. 

Yust, William F Louisville, Kentucky. 



Note. — Only citizens of Kentucky are eligible to membership in The Filson Club; 
but a member once elected does not lose his or her membership by moving out 
of the State. 



LIST OF PUBLICATIONS 



The Filson Club is an historical, biographical, and literary- 
association located in Touisville, Kentucky. It was named 
after John Filson, the first historian of Kentucky, whose quaint 
little octavo of one hundred and eighteen pages was published 
at Wilmington, Delaware, in 1784. It was organized May 15, 
1884, and incorporated October 5, 1891, for the purpose, as 
expressed in its charter, of collecting, preserving, and publish- 
ing the history of Kentucky and adjacent States, and cultiva- 
ting a taste for historic inquiry and study among its members. 
While its especial field of operations was thus theoretically 
limited, its practical workings were confined to no locality. 
Each member is at liberty to choose a subject and prepare a 
paper and read it to the Club, among whose archives it is to 
be filed. From the papers thus accumulated selections are 
made for publication, and there have now been issued twenty- 
one volumes or numbers of these publications. They are all 
paper-bound quartos, printed with pica old-style type on pure 
white antique paper, with broad margins, untrimmed edges, 
and halftone illustrations. They have been admired both at 
home and abroad, not only for their original and valuable 
matter, but also for their tasteful and comely appearance. They 
are not printed for sale in the commercial sense of th term, 
but for distribution among the members of the Club. Only 
limited editions to meet the wants of the Club are published, 
but any numbers which may be left over after the members 
have been supplied are exchanged with other associations or 
sold at about the cost of publication. The following is a brief 
catalogue of all the Club publications to date. 



1 68 List of Publications 

i . John Filson, the first historian of Kentucky. An account 
of his life and writings, principally from original sources, prepared 
for The Filson Club and read at its second meeting in Louis- 
ville, June 26, 1884, by Reuben T. Durrett, A. M., LL. D., Presi- 
dent of the Club. Illustrated with a likeness of Filson, a fac- 
simile of one of his letters, and a photo-lithographic reproduc- 
tion of his map of Kentucky printed at Philadelphia in 1784. 
4to, 132 pages. John P. Morton & Co., Printers, Louisville, 
Ky. 1884. 

2. The Wilderness Road: A description of the routes of 
travel by which the pioneers and early settlers first came to 
Kentucky. Prepared for The Filson Club by Captain Thomas 
Speed, Secretary of the Club. Illustrated with a map showing 
the routes of travel. 4to, 75 pages. John P. Morton & Co., 
Printers, Louisville, Kentucky. 1886. 

3. The Pioneer Press of Kentucky, from the printing 
of the first paper west of the Alleghanies, August 11, 1787, to 
the establishment of the Daily Press, 1830. Prepared for The 
Filson Club by William Henry Perrin, member of the Club. 
Illustrated with facsimiles of pages of the Kentucky Gazette 
and Farmer's Library, a view of the first printing house in Ken- 
tucky, and likenesses of John Bradford, Shadrack Penn, and 
George D. Prentice. 4to, 93 pages. John P. Morton & Co., 
Printers, Louisville, Kentucky. 1888. 

4. Life and Times of Judge Caleb Wallace, sometime a 
Justice of the Court of Appeals of the State of Kentucky. By 
the Reverend William H. Whitsitt, D. D., member of The 
Filson Club. 4to, 151 pages. John P. Morton & Co., Printers, 
Louisville, Kentucky. 1888. 

5. An Historical Sketch of St. Paul's Church, Louis- 
ville, Kentucky, prepared for the Semi-Centennial Celebration, 
October 6, 1889. By Reuben T. Durrett, A. M., LL. D., Presi- 
dent of The Filson Club. Illustrated with likenesses of the 
Reverend William Jackson, the Reverend Edmund T. Perkins, 
D. D., and views of the church as first built in 1839 an( i as it 



List of Publications 169 

appeared in 1889. 4to, 90 pages. John P. Morton & Co 
Printers, Louisville, Kentucky. 1889. 

6. The Political Beginnings of Kentucky: A narra- 
tive of public events bearing on the history of the State up to 
the time of its admission into the American Union. By Colonel 
John Mason Brown, member of The Filson Club. Illustrated 
with a likeness of the author. 4 to, 263 pages. John P. Morton 
& Co., Printers, Louisville, Kentucky. 1889. 

7- The Centenary of Kentucky: Proceedings at the cele- 
bration by The Filson Club, Wednesday, June 1, 1892 of the 
one hundredth anniversary of the admission of Kentucky as an 
independent State into the Federal Union. Prepared for pub- 
lication by Reuben T. Durrett, A. M., LL. D., President of The 
Filson Club. Illustrated with likenesses of President Durrett 
Major Stanton, Sieur La Salle, and General George Ro-ers 
Clark, and facsimiles of the music and songs of the Centennial 
Banquet. 4 to, 200 pages. Robert Clarke & Co., Cincinnati 
Ohio, and John P. Morton & Co., Printers, Louisville, Kentucky' 
1892. J ' 

8. The Centenary of Louisville. A paper read before 
the Southern Historical Association, Saturday, May 1 1880 
m commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary' of the 
beginning of the city of Louisville as an incorporated town under 
an act of the Virginia Legislature. By Reuben T Durrett 
A. M., LL. D., President of The Filson Club. Illustrated with 
likenesses of Colonel Durrett, Sieur La Salle and General George 
Rogers Clark. 4 to, 200 pages. John P. Morton & Co., Printers 
Louisville, Kentucky. 

9. The Political Club, Danville, Kentucky, 1 786-1 790 
Being an account of an early Kentucky debating society from 
the original papers recently found. By Captain Thomas Speed 
Secretary of The Filson Club. 4 to, xii-167 pages. John p' 
Morton & Co., Printers, Louisville, Kentucky. i8 94 . 

10. The Life and Writings of Rafinesoue. Prepared for 
The Filson Club and read at its meeting Monday, April 2, i8 94 



lyo List of Publications 

By Richard Ellsworth Call, M. A., M. Sc, M. D., member of 
The Filson Club. Illustrated with likenesses of Rafmesque and 
facsimiles of pages of his Fishes of the Ohio and Botany of 
Louisville. 4to, xii-227 pages. John P. Morton & Co., Printers, 
Louisville, Kentucky. 1895. 

11. Transylvania University. Its origin, rise, decline and 
fall. Prepared for The Filson Club by Robert Peter, M. D., 
and his daughter, Miss Johanna Peter, members of The Filson 
Club. Illustrated with a likeness of Doctor Peter. 4-to, 202 
pages. John P. Morton & Co., Printers, Louisville, Kentucky. 
1896. 

12. Bryant's Station and the memorial proceedings held 
on its site under the auspices of the Lexington Chapter D. A. R., 
August 18, 1896, in honor of its heroic mothers and daughters. 
Prepared for publication by Reuben T. Durrett, A. M., LL. D., 
President of The Filson Club. Illustrated with likenesses of 
officers of the Lexington Chapter D. A. R., President Durrett 
of The Filson Club, Major Stanton, Professor Ranck, Colonel 
Young and Dr. Todd, members of the Club, and full-page views 
of Bryant's Station and its spring, and of the battlefield of the 
Blue Licks. 4to, xii-227 pages. John P. Morton & Co., Printers, 
Louisville, Kentucky. 1897. 

13. The First Explorations of Kentucky. The Journals 
of Doctor Thomas Walker, 1750, and of Colonel Christopher 
Gist, 1751. Edited by Colonel J. Stoddard Johnston, Vice- 
President of The Filson Club. Illustrated with a map of Ken- 
tucky showing the routes of Walker and Gist throughout the 
State, with a view of Castle Hill, the residence of Dr. Walker, 
and a likeness of Colonel Johnston. 4to, 256 pages. John P. 
Morton & Co., Printers, Louisville, Kentucky. 1898. 

14. The Clay Family. Part First — The mother of Henry 
Clay, by Zachary F. Smith, member of The Filson Club. Part 
Second — The Genealogy of the Clays, by Mrs. Mary Rogers 
Clay, member of The Filson Club. Illustrated with a full-page 
halftone likeness of Henry Clay, of each of the authors, and a 



List of Publications 171 

full-page picture of the Clay coat-of-arms, also four full-page 
grouped illustrations, each containing four likenesses of mem- 
bers of the Clay family. 4to, vi-276 pages. John P. Morton 
& Co., Printers, Louisville, Kentucky. 1899. 

15. The Battle of Tippecanoe. Part First — The Battle 
and Battle-ground; Part Second — Comment of the Press; Part 
Third — Roll of the Army commanded by General Harrison. 
By Captain Albert Pirtle, member of The Filson Club. Illus- 
trated with a likeness of the author and likenesses of William 
Henry Harrison and Colonel Joseph Hamilton Daveiss and Elks- 
watawa, "The Prophet," together with three full-page views 
and a plot of the battle-ground. 4to, xix-158 pages. John P. 
Morton & Co., Printers, Louisville, Kentucky. 1900. 

16. Boonesborough, a pioneer town of Kentucky: Its 
origin, progress, decline, and final extinction. By George W. 
Ranck, historian, of Lexington, Kentucky, etc., and member 
of The Filson Club. Illustrated with copious halftone views of 
its site and its fort, with likenesses of the author and of Daniel 
Boone, and a picture of Boone's principal relics. 4to, xii-286 
pages. John P. Morton & Co., Printers, Louisville, Kentucky. 
1901. 

17. The Old Masters op the Bluegrass. By General 
Samuel W. Price, member of The Filson Club. Consisting of 
biographic sketches of the distinguished Kentucky artists, Mat- 
thew H. Jouett, Joseph H. Bush, John Grimes, Oliver Frazer, 
Louis Morgan, Joel T. Hart, and Samuel W. Price, with half- 
tone likenesses of the artists and specimens of their work. 4to, 
xiii-181 pages. John P. Morton & Co., Printers, Louisville, 
Kentucky. 1902. 

18. The Battle of the Thames. By Colonel Bennett H. 
Young, member of The Filson Club. Presenting a review of the 
causes which led to the battle, the preparations made for it, the 
scene of the conflict, and the victory. Illustrated with a steel 
engraving of the author, halftone likenesses of the principal 
actors and scenes and relics from the battlefield. To which is 



172 List of Publications 

added an appendix containing a list of the officers and privates 
engaged. 4to, 288 pages. John P. Morton & Co., Printers, 
Louisville, Kentucky. 1903. 

19. The Battle of New Orleans. By Zachary F. Smith, 
member of The Filson Club. Presenting a full account of the 
forces engaged, the preparations made, the preliminary conflicts 
which led up to the final battle and the victory to the Americans 
on the 8th of January, 181 5. Illustrated with full-page likenesses 
of the author, of Generals Jackson and Adair, of Governors Shelby 
and Slaughter, and maps of the country and scenes from the 
battlefield, to which is added a list of Kentuckians in the battle. 
4to, 224 pages. John P. Morton & Co., Printers, Louisville, 
Kentucky. 1904. 

20. The History of the Medical Department of Tran- 
sylvania University. By Dr. Robert Peter, deceased. Pre- 
pared for publication by his daughter, Miss Johanna Peter, 
member of The Filson Club. Illustrated with full-page likenesses 
of the author and principal professors, and a view of the old 
medical hall and its janitor. 4to, 205 pages. John P. Morton 
& Co., Printers, Louisville, Kentucky. 1905. 

21. Lopez's Expeditions to Cuba. By A. C. Quisenberry, 
member of The Filson Club. Presenting a detailed account of 
the Cardenas and the Bahia Honda expeditions, with the names 
of the officers and men, as far as ascertainable, who were engaged 
in them. Illustrated with full-page likenesses of A. C. Quisen- 
berry the author, General Narciso Lopez commander-in-chief, 
Colonel John T. Pickett, Colonel Theodore O'Hara, Colonel 
Thomas T. Hawkins, Colonel William Logan Crittenden, Captain 
Robert H. Breckenridge, Lieutenant John Carl Johnston, and 
landscape views of Cuba, Rose Hill, Moro Castle, and a common 
human bone-heap of a Cuban cemetery. In the appendix, 
besides other valuable matter, will be found a full list of The 
Filson Club publications and of the members of the Club. 4to, 
172 pages. John P. Morton & Co., Printers, Louisville, Ken- 
tucky. 1906. 



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